Why is Song Lam Nghe An Club's training ground degraded but not yet repaired?

Downgradep severe

Patches of grass are worn out, peeling, and the surface is as hard as concrete… that is the current state of the artificial turf field No. 1 of the SLNA Youth Football Training Center. After nearly a decade of use without a single major repair, the field has lost its necessary function. Every afternoon, 3 to 4 youth teams practice here, causing the level of degradation to become increasingly serious, turning the training ground into a potential danger.

Many parents are worried when their children practice on a hard field, with almost all the rubber granules gone, revealing the base layer. Many young players leave the field with long scratches on their arms and legs.

Player Thai Dinh Trong - U11 SLNA shared: "While dribbling into the middle of the field, I was fouled by a player and fell down. Because the field was too hard, I slipped on my skin, it was very painful and sore."

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Because the court surface was too hard, I slipped and it hurt a lot.

Player Thai Dinh Trong - U11 SLNA

Coach Au Van Hoan - SLNA Youth Football Training Center is also concerned: “The quality of the field is currently very poor. The grass is damaged, the rubber layer is almost gone, directly affecting the professional quality and easily causing injuries, especially to the knees and back. In internal matches, the hard field makes it easy for the players to fall and get scratches, even serious injuries to the legs and knee joints.”

It is worth mentioning that the responsibility for renovating the field has not been clearly defined. SLNA Club said that the training field is not under their full management, while the direct management unit, Nghe An Province Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center, also expressed concern.

Ms. Pham Thi Thinh - Acting Director of the Center, said: "Every year, Nghe An province orders youth football training for SLNA, but the budget only covers the athletes and coaches..., not including the cost of repairing or renovating the field. Some items have degraded, no longer commensurate with the potential and football tradition of Nghe An. We hope to have the coordination and attention of all parties so that the facilities can be improved, thereby helping the children have good training conditions and continue the pride of Nghe An football."

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Some items have degraded, no longer commensurate with Nghe An's football potential and tradition.

Ms. Pham Thi Thinh - Acting Director of Nghe An Province Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center

What is the cause?

In the context of Vietnamese football becoming more and more professional, standard facilities are an important factor to maintain the brand. Therefore, the sponsor Song Lam Nghe An needs to clearly define the responsibility in reinvesting and repairing the training ground.

Every year, Nghe An province has allocated 30 billion VND in budget for training. Players who have grown up from SLNA academy all serve the first team, some like goalkeeper Van Viet or midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien have even been transferred or loaned by the club, bringing in significant revenue. Obviously, allocating a portion of the budget to upgrade the field for youth training is something that sponsors should not avoid.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuong - Head of Sports Management Department, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An emphasized: "Football is a sport with a very high socialization. The Provincial People's Committee has supported 30 billion VND each year for youth training, which is a great concern, helping to reduce the burden on sponsors. Therefore, Tan Long Group also needs to share responsibility, arrange more funds to repair and upgrade the field and training facilities, to ensure the best conditions for players".

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Tan Long Group also needs to share responsibility and allocate more funds to repair and upgrade the field and training facilities to ensure the best conditions for players.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuong - Head of Sports Management Department, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An

In fact, we cannot rely solely on the state budget. The fundamental solution is the initiative of the sponsor. When the sponsor clearly defines the responsibilities, the problem will be solved, which is an affirmation of the Club's long-term commitment to youth training.

Moreover, investing in the field brings practical benefits. A standard training ground not only limits injuries, improves training quality but also helps SLNA maintain its appeal in the context of many football academies across the country developing strongly.

It is time for the Sponsor of Song Lam Nghe An Club to take action. The renovation and upgrading of the training ground is a necessary condition to protect the famous training brand, at the same time creating a solid foundation for Nghe An youth football to continue contributing to the overall achievements of the Club.

Duc Anh