SLNA and 'bright signals' from young factors

Coming to V.League 2020, SLNA registered 28 players, the oldest player is Alagie Sosseh, born in 1986 (34 years old), the oldest domestic player is Dinh Dong - Quang Tinh born in 1987 (33 years old) and the youngest player is central defender Le Thanh Lam born in 2000, 20 years old this year. Most of the Nghe An players in the main squad were born in 1995 and 1996. That makes the average age of SLNA players at 25.4.

Midfielder Tran Ngoc Anh is one of three young SLNA players who have played in the V.League. Photo: VPF

In the goalless draw against Saigon, coach Ngo Quang Truong surprised everyone by leaving two veteran central midfielders Quang Tinh and Quoc Trung on the bench and replacing them with the pair Van Lam and Dinh Chau, who had never tried their hand at the V.League. Among them, midfielder Dang Van Lam was born in 1999 and Bui Dinh Chau was born in 1996. Except for the foreign players, the starting lineup of SLNA that match had Dinh Dong as the oldest player and the average age of the Nghe An players was 25.5. This is considered the age of maturity combined with youth.

In the match against B. Binh Duong, when Quang Tinh was let off, SLNA had two players born in 1999 on the field, Dang Van Lam and Tran Ngoc Anh. Thus, after 2 matches, the Nghe An team has installed 3 young faces. As for midfielder Dang Van Lam, after only 1 unsuccessful match, he has gradually caught up with the fast and fierce playing pace of V.League. SLNA is a team with a tradition of trusting young players, but rarely has a player been placed in the main squad in his first time wearing the first team shirt like this midfielder from Do Luong.

Statistics of the first season of Khac Ngoc - Van Lam in their first season playing in V.League. Graphics: TK

Take midfielder Ho Khac Ngoc, 28 years old, currently playing for Viettel Club. He was promoted to SLNA's first team in V.League 2012 when he was 20 and only played 8 matches from the bench. A year later in V.League 2013, he only played 8 matches but did not appear in the starting lineup once. Khac Ngoc's journey to assert himself was even more difficult than the younger generation later when he only had 2/4 starting matches in V.League 2014 and 3/9 times appearing in the starting lineup of V.League 2015.

Midfielder Vo Ngoc Toan was born in 1994, promoted to the first team at the age of 21 at the time of V.League 2015 by coach Ngo Quang Truong himself. That same year, he was in the starting lineup 10/15 times and his performance was not very impressive due to his lack of experience. However, just one year later, he was a mainstay of the team with 18/23 appearances from the start in V.League 2016.

Statistics of Ngoc Toan - Dinh Chau's first season in the first season playing in V.League. Graphics: TK

If we take the development of Ngoc Toan - Khac Ngoc as a measure, the development opportunities of players Van Lam - Dinh Chau - Ngoc Anh are very open. This is also clearly affirmed by Coach Ngo Quang Truong, who is quite a good player in youth training and his decisiveness and boldness. Of course, the current young players of SLNA need to make a lot of effort to gradually fill the gaps left by their seniors.

Right after the victory over B. Binh Duong with the mark of the young players, Coach Ngo Quang Truong shared: “SLNA has combined some veterans like Dinh Dong, Quang Tinh, with a team of young players, with passion, daring and such a way of playing makes me very satisfied. I always put my trust in them, we will gradually improve. They have matured in youth tournaments up to the First Division. Wearing the SLNA shirt is the pride of any player. With young players like Dang Van Lam, I believe that they will not lose their ability, courage, confidence and will do better in the next matches.

Indeed, not only the progress and confidence of the players playing V.League for the first time such as Van Lam, Dinh Chau and Ngoc Anh, the solidity of goalkeeper Van Hoang in the goal, central defender Hoang Van Khanh also showed his maturity and steadiness compared to himself a year ago. His ability to command the defense, calm and fiery playing style was still promoted when he wore the captain's armband. And especially, Phan Van Duc is the most typical face for the youth and experience of a new version called SLNA.