Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football and the story of gains and losses in 2023

Don't let achievement disease affect the development process

Over the years, Song Lam Nghe An's youth football teams have always achieved great success and become one of the most successful training centers in the country's football. Especially in the 2022 season, Song Lam Nghe An's youth training center brought home 5 Gold Cups. That is what potential youth training centers such as Viettel, Hanoi, PVF... dream of.

However, in the 2023 season, Song Lam Nghe An could not repeat the achievements of 2022. The Nghe An youth football training center only achieved a single championship in the National U13 Tournament. The National U9 and U11 tournaments, which are usually the "gold-picking" places for Song Lam Nghe An, were occupied this year by lesser-known teams.

Specifically, at the National Children's Championship, U11 Song Lam Nghe An has won the championship 7 times, including 5 consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. At this tournament, U11 Nghe An has shown a completely superior class and often rushed to the finish line with almost no obstacles from opponents. By the 2023 season, U11 Song Lam Nghe An continues to be a strong candidate for the championship. However, at the end of the tournament, U11 Song Lam Nghe An only won the Bronze medal.

Similarly, at the National U9 Tournament held for the first time in 2021. In the 3 opening seasons, U9 Song Lam Nghe An won 2 championships in 2021 and 2022. It is worth mentioning that in these 2 seasons, U9 Nghe An has affirmed its superior strength and has no competitors. U9 Song Lam Nghe An won the championship with resounding victories. It was thought that in 2023, that achievement would naturally be repeated. However, when the tournament ended, U9 Song Lam Nghe An only won the Bronze Medal.

The reason why the "monument" of the National U9 and U11 tournament suddenly "fell freely" is clearly understood by all the audiences. U9 and U11 Song Lam Nghe An accepting to withdraw silently was a necessary move; an effective solution to prevent the tournament from "ending halfway".

However, fans are wondering whether the age cheating story will be repeated in the following year's tournaments. Is Song Lam Nghe An really worried that the achievement disease will cause consequences and negatively impact the team's development in the future?

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia - Deputy General Director of Song Lam Nghe An, Director of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center said: "After the incident happened, Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center seriously reviewed the incident and built plans to develop football according to the motto of both "clean" and sustainable. We are determined not to let the disease of achievements destroy the football tradition of Nghe An that has been built over many generations."

Achievements in youth tournaments organized by the Vietnam Football Federation are essentially a test of the training quality of Song Lam Nghe An in a year. When the students achieve high results, they also bring pride to their home province and to the fans of Nghe An.

However, we always determine that medals are not the destination that Song Lam Nghe An needs to achieve at all costs. We hope to train talented players to serve the Song Lam Nghe An first team and supplement the Vietnam national team.

- Mr. Nguyen Dinh Nghia - Deputy General Director of Song Lam Nghe An, Director of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center.

Positive signals

On the way to “cleaning up” youth football, Song Lam Nghe An training center decided to clean up the entire system. The work of checking the real age of athletes was carried out seriously and systematically.

Accordingly, before each tournament, the center will require all players to have a record of birth confirmation from the Justice Department at the district level or higher, instead of just confirmation from the Justice Department at the commune level. In addition, experienced coaches will once again confirm the age of the athletes.

Only players who truly meet the requirements of expertise, physique, physical strength and have valid records are qualified to be in the youth teams of Song Lam Nghe An. Through these methods, Song Lam Nghe An has initially regained its image in the eyes of fans.

In addition, in order to improve the quality of human resources, Song Lam Nghe An has linked and cooperated with many localities across the country to select talented players to bring to the center. Specifically, after the end of the 2023 National U13 tournament, Song Lam Nghe An attracted 5 talented athletes from Bac Ninh, supplementing U13 Song Lam Nghe An.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Dung - Deputy Director of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Training Center commented: "Through the 2023 National U13 tournament, and the professional testing process at the center, we assess that these 5 players have great potential and good ethics. When they enter the professional training environment at Song Lam Nghe An, they will have many opportunities to develop their careers. In addition, the youth team of Song Lam Nghe An will also be stronger. We hope that this approach will continue to be replicated, thereby helping Song Lam Nghe An have more abundant and quality resources."

In addition to attracting quality human resources to the center, Song Lam Nghe An has also gradually approached the developed football environments in the continent and on the international stage. This helps coaches and players to expand their knowledge, thereby maturing more professionally.

Specifically, in mid-November, the U12 Song Lam Nghe An team, representing Vietnamese youth football, participated in the “58 Fighter Cup” International Youth Football Tournament held in Hunan Province (China). By competing with top European teams such as Olympique Lyonnais (France) and Benfica (Portugal), Nghe An players gained valuable experiences and learned more about modern football playing styles from their European counterparts.

Also at the end of 2023, Song Lam Nghe An will officially sign a cooperation agreement with Mito Hollyhock Club. Through this cooperation, Song Lam Nghe An will receive in-depth support from its partner in youth training, sending experts to guide and transfer training programs to help the club develop more sustainably in the future. Nghe An players will also regularly travel and practice at the Mito Hollyhock Club Youth Football Training Center.

It can be said that Song Lam Nghe An youth football has gone through a year with many ups and downs. However, the methods that the club is implementing promise to bring positive things, so that Nghe An youth football can develop more brilliantly in the future.

Duc Anh