Vietnam Golden Ball 2019: What are the chances for Nguyen Trong Hoang?

With his impressive performance, Nguyen Trong Hoang has always been the number 1 choice of coach Park Hang-seo for the right-back position of the home team. Since the beginning of 2019 until now, the player born in 1989 has not missed any match of the Vietnam National Team at the 2019 Asian Cup, 2019 King's Cup and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers (a total of 12 matches). It is no coincidence that Hoang "cow" is so highly regarded by coach Park.

Don't forget, Coach Park Hang-seo once surprised experts and football fans in the country when he included Nguyen Trong Hoang in the list of players participating in the King's Cup 2019 in Thailand, even though the former SLNA player had to "sit idle" during the first leg of the V.League 2019 (Viettel Club did not have time to register with VPF). Mr. Park even used Nguyen Trong Hoang from the start in both matches against the Thai National Team and the Curacao National Team.

Nguyen Trong Hoang had a successful year in the national team jersey. Photo: Archive

Witnessing the form and stable physical foundation of his favorite student, the Korean strategist decided to choose Nguyen Trong Hoang to join the U22 Vietnam team to participate in the 30th SEA Games (Nguyen Trong Hoang and Do Hung Dung are 2 players over 22 years old). Not letting down the trust of coach Park Hang-seo, Hoang "cow" played excellently in both the right-back and right-wing midfielder positions, with 1 goal and 1 successful assist.

In addition to his purely professional achievements, the former SLNA Captain also proved his role as a "big brother" on the field. Nguyen Trong Hoang's passionate and dedicated playing style, along with his timely reminders and encouragements, helped his teammates become more confident in all situations. It can be affirmed that the contribution of the player wearing the number 8 shirt in the achievement of winning the Gold Medal at the 30th SEA Games of U22 Vietnam is extremely great.

Therefore, many experts and Vietnamese football fans believe that Nguyen Trong Hoang deserves to be the owner of the Vietnamese Golden Ball title this year. However, Hoang "cow"'s ability to win is quite fragile, because the competitors are all "hard to beat", typically Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai. Compared to the two teammates mentioned above, Nguyen Trong Hoang does not have impressive achievements in the club's shirt.

Nguyen Quang Hai is the owner of the 2018 Vietnam Golden Ball award. Photo: Vietnamnet.vn

In V.League 2019, the Nghe An player only played in the second leg, and his home club Viettel only finished 6th overall. Obviously, Nguyen Trong Hoang cannot compare to what Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Quang Hai did in Hanoi FC (winning V.League and National Cup). Not to mention, in AFC Cup 2019, the capital team also appeared in the inter-regional final, before losing to North Korea's 4.25 Club on extra points.

Objectively speaking, the advantage is leaning towards the two players of Hanoi Club. If the owner of the 2019 Vietnam Golden Ball title is Do Hung Dung or Nguyen Quang Hai, it would not be surprising. Simply, they are completely worthy. And in the case of Nguyen Trong Hoang being the winner, surely not many people would feel offended. A brave warrior like Hoang "cow" is always worthy of all rewards.

The 2019 Vietnam Golden Ball Gala is expected to take place at 8:00 p.m. on February 13, 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City.