Vinh Stadium - football of the past

The "Holy Land" of Football ClubsLam River Nghe An, where many people come to cheer for the king of sports with the thunderous cheers still imprinted in the minds of those who have been here. How can we forget the top matches of the national football championship, where the Nghe An team is considered one of the prominent names with 3 times crowned at the highest level of the country.

Remember the day I set foot in Vinh city. The nature, landscape and life here were quite strange for someone from the North. Then I was surprised by the countless eyes, smiles and friendly voices of the people here. "Let's go watch football to heat up the Vinh fire". The humorous and optimistic words of a friend right after a tiring day of work seemed to lift everyone's spirits. Then I set foot in Vinh stadium, one of the most vibrant football stadiums in the country, where the great pride of the football fans in Nghe An for their beloved team was shown.

I went to Vinh Stadium as a fan of the away team, but later on I loved the home team. When our country's football was becoming professional, Song Lam Nghe An team actively participated in the transformation of our country's football, operating enthusiastically with a bustling atmosphere.

I remember the atmosphere of cheering for the football team at Vinh stadium made people forget all fatigue and join in the cheers.

I forget the daily hardships and hustle and bustle to enjoy the football match with everyone, standing up and clapping every time there is a good move.

In Vinh, every weekend or when there is a football match, people gather in front of the TV or discuss plans to go to the stadium to watch live, it is noisy but extremely fun, as if a tiring week of work is nothing. They just go out to cheer, those who have money have already bought tickets, those who have no money just go near the stadium to enjoy the atmosphere and watch TV at a nearby cafe, it is also very crowded and fun.

The way Song Lam Nghe An fans cheered was amazing. I remember that day, Vinh stadium was like a fire pan heated by the sunlight and the shouts of “Song Lam Nghe An is the champion”. All the sublime emotions of the players on the field and the fans seemed to blend into one in the endless football atmosphere.

The match lasted 90 minutes but passed by so quickly. Here, not only the home fans but also the away team felt this enthusiasm as an encouragement to show their best on the field.

Then we had dinner with our brothers from Nghe An and chatted. “North, Central and South are all brothers, as long as we are football fans we are all friends”, a saying I heard a lot every time teams from the North came here to play.

Sitting down to discuss is always the same, even if it is just chatting over drinks and tea, the “online coaches” are all for the sake of their beloved team. Only when the country competes can there be talented people for the national team to reach out to the world. Then discuss and analyze the playing style and characteristics of each player, and what the tactical pieces are.

People say that no matter how long you talk about football, it's true. It's also because of the character of the people here, any visiting team is always gentle and evokes the spirit of true football fans.

Once again, I returned to Vinh Stadium after several years. Vinh City welcomed visitors with a vibrant life and felt many changes after 2 long years of fighting the storm called the Covid-19 pandemic. Vinh City's fire pan imprinted many emotions of fans across the country, especially on the day of victory over the epidemic, we were able to go to the stadium to watch football as usual.

That place holds so many memories from the days of shorts and t-shirts. Back then, I participated in a 7-a-side football match in Vinh and was exhausted but still eagerly joined in the joy of the ball rolling on this majestic Vinh stadium to immerse myself in the cheers and encouragement of the fans. It has been twenty years but I still clearly remember the excitement and sublimation at Vinh stadium that year.

On the sidelines of the match, we talked about each other's lives and people. Although our styles are different, when we sympathize, Nghe An people are very open-minded. "God gave the people here that personality". Live comfortably, give your all and always try your best in everything. That can be said to be the most wonderful thing I have learned from Nghe An people.

From poverty to prosperity for thirty or forty years, my Nghe An friends have always lived in every breath for a brighter tomorrow. Are those just words when excited? Certainly not, because in reality, everyone has changed but that spirit remains strong after so many years of struggling in life.

After the match ended, I had a meal with some friends from Nghe An, which was called a summary of the match. Everyone had an indescribable and unforgettable feeling, especially after each evenly matched match. The meal with the main dish of Nghe eel was extremely delicious and appetizing. Whether each team won or lost, the noble sportsmanship is something that always exists in the kind and sincere people of Nghe An. With my friends, understanding more about Nghe An land further enhances my pride in the Vietnamese bloodline./.