SLNA: Fierce competition for goalkeeper position

Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang is the only new player of SLNA up to this point. After leaving Saigon FC, Van Hoang immediately got married and found a new destination for his career, he officially returned to wear the shirt of his hometown team SLNA. It can be said that wearing the SLNA shirt is a dream come true for this boy from Tan Ky.

The contract named Nguyen Van Hoang is the plan to replace Tran Nguyen Manh of the Nghe An team. However, to be able to gain favor, Van Hoang needs to make more efforts when coach Ngo Quang Truong has Tran Van Tien. The goalkeeper from Do Luong has clearly improved his performance in recent times.

In V.League 2019, Van Tien was the second goalkeeper, a reserve for Tran Nguyen Manh. Being trained under the guidance of his fellow Do Luong brother was extremely lucky for Van Tien. For Van Tien, Nguyen Manh is not only a talented teammate, but Van Tien's progress is largely due to the best goalkeeper of V.League 2019.

Goalkeeper Van Tien has made remarkable progress after V.League 2019. Photo: Archive

“I am lucky to play football with Mr. Manh. He is the best goalkeeper in V.League and with his many years of experience, he always knows how to guide his juniors to improve. I am much more confident when I learn many things from my hometown brother”, Goalkeeper Van Tien shared.

Van Tien only played 3 matches in the 2019 season. However, in those 3 matches, Van Tien more or less created trust for Nghe An fans with his ability to enter and exit appropriately and his brave playing style. Without Van Tien's excellence, SLNA would not have won all 3 points against Binh Duong at home and then the draw with Than Quang Ninh at the end of the season.

The addition of Van Hoang is necessary for SLNA's current situation. Before Nguyen Manh left, SLNA only had 2 reserve goalkeepers, Tran Van Tien and Duong Van Cuong. From many perspectives, Van Hoang has a big advantage as he was a former U23 player and was given the opportunity to play in V.League 2019 in the Saigon FC jersey.

The glory of the U23 Asia has faded away, now is the time for Van Hoang to take advantage of the opportunity to shine in the colors of his hometown team SLNA - Photo: SLNA FC

It can be said that the goalkeeper position of SLNA in V.League 2020 is a fierce competition between Van Tien and Van Hoang next to an inexperienced Duong Van Cuong. It will be very difficult to know who will be officially chosen by new coach Quang Truong. Van Tien is ready to replace his compatriot, while for Van Hoang, the halo of U23 Asia has faded away and now is the time for him to assert his position in the highest level of Vietnam in the shirt of his hometown team.