New General Director of SLNA: The club is calling on Nghe An players to return to contribute to their homeland.

Since June 1, Tan Long Group has officially taken over SLNA Football Club. The Nghe An football team is making positive changes and receiving special attention from fans. Nghe An Newspaper reporter had a conversation with Mr.Truong Manh Linh - General Director and CEO of SLNAfor more information.

PV: Hello new General Director and also new Executive Director of Song Lam Nghe An Football Club (SLNA), first of all, could you tell us what brought Tan Long to SLNA?

Mr. Truong Manh Linh:Based on the wishes of the majority of people and fans, in recent times, the leaders of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee have sought and considered a number of new partners to invest in and rebuild the Nghe football team. Immediately after receiving this information,Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tan Long Group Truong Sy Bahas contacted the local government, offering to sponsor and restructure the management and operation of the club so that SLNA can soon return to being a force in domestic football.

Mr. Truong Manh Linh (left) talks with Nghe An Newspaper reporter. Photo: TH

PV: Before taking over SLNA, what did you know about this club?

Mr. Truong Manh Linh:First, as children of Nghe An who love football, with the blood of our homeland flowing through us, we identify SLNA as the “priceless spiritual asset” of the people of Nghe An. We clearly recognize the fundamental foundation and tradition of the SLNA football team that must be preserved. We will promote what is good, and gradually overcome and change what is not so good so that SLNA fans and supporters in every part of the country or wherever they go will always be proud of their hometown team and the football of their province.

The new General Director and CEO of SLNA is only 29 years old. Photo: TH

SLNA's brand has been affirmed for decades. The Board of Directors determined that from this moment on, fans will be the compass to guide the development of Nghe An's football potential. And as football experts, we determined that youth football will be a stronghold, a solid foundation for long-term, sustainable development. Professional but does not mean that there is a lack of love and affection in the SLNA family.

PV: As a corporation that has just entered the football environment, what makes you most confident in a new look at SLNA?

Mr. Truong Manh Linh:I think that, up to this moment, we see that the common “mission” has been coordinated by the relevant parties in a synchronous and very smooth manner and can be said to have been initially successful. The people, fans, athletes, parents as well as the spirit of all staff and workers are very excited for a renewal and upgrade. Our point of view is that everything comes from the heart, any effort must be carried out humanely, with a beginning and an end.

SLNA has a unique strength that no other team can have, which is spirit. That is also the inspiration for us to build, work and work, even define and strengthen the traditional style of play of SLNA. There are difficulties but also many certain advantages.

The new General Director encouraged young talent Dinh Xuan Tien when this player was just promoted to the first team. Xuan Tien was discovered at the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament in 2014. The midfielder born in 2003 is the brightest face of the SLNA training center at present. Photo: TH

From the passion, love for SLNA and the trust of the Group's leaders, we, the young people, will promote the spirit of shock, solidarity, unanimity, determination to overcome all difficulties so that the ultimate goal is for SLNA and for the love of football that has been ingrained in the blood of the people of Nghe An. Surely everyone does not know that I and thousands of Tan Long employees are also loyal fans of SLNA, admirers of Huu Thang, Huy Hoang, Van Quyen since we were very young (laughs).

Reporter: It seems that SLNA is implementing a policy of “recruiting talented people”. Can you reveal a little about the process of “comprehensive restructuring” of SLNA football team up to the present time?

Mr. Truong Manh Linh:The Group's leaders arrived in Vinh City early, taking the opportunity to directly visit the team's headquarters, visit the facilities, meet and listen to the wishes of the team's managers as well as the athletes, staff and workers. Through that, we see that there is still a lot of work to do to gradually professionalize SLNA Club, in line with the general development needs of football in the country and the region.

Mr. Truong Sy Ba visits young players at the training center. Photo: SLNA FC

Right after President Truong Sy Ba appointed the coaching staff, some other positions such as Deputy Director in charge of professional skills, Deputy Director in charge of living, we started with the smallest tasks, such as improving meals for the children, renovating the physical and mental facilities on the basis of inheritance, preservation and promotion. Or in football knowledge, it is to choose the best players, let them play in the right position and help them have the best motivation and performance.

Everyone in SLNA Club must try their best for the common good of the team and the common good of each person. Basically, we are very happy to have fans who always accompany and support us. A word of encouragement at this time is very valuable, like a fire from the stands passing down to the field for us.

SLNA has successfully retained Phan Van Duc. Photo: SLNA FC

After a 3-year contract with the main strikerPhan Van Ductook place on May 19, the new leadership successfully negotiated with Xuan Manh, including foreign players. At the same time, the club will call on some good players to return to contribute to their homeland in the future. SLNA's immediate goal after joining the new sponsor is to successfully stay in the National Championship this year. And if successful, the goal for next year must satisfy the expectations of the fans.

PV: On behalf of the SLNA football team in particular and the leaders of SLNA Sports Joint Stock Company in general, what are your wishes and messages?

Mr. Truong Manh Linh:With all sincerity, SLNA in general and the leaders of SLNA Sports Joint Stock Company in particular hope that the representatives of the provincial leaders will continue to coordinate and direct more closely in the coming time. For example, the renovation of Vinh Stadium is going very well and is being recognized. So that we can do well, please the fans and especially create the best conditions for Song Lam Nghe An to soon stabilize training and be ready to compete, completing the goals of the 2021 season.

Hereby, on behalf of Nghe An football lovers, we would like to thank the sponsors and especially the North Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank for their support over the past 12 years, and the professionals who have preserved the local identity and continued the football tradition of the people of Nghe An for generations. We thank the generations of leaders of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee - People's Committee, departments, branches and sectors for their interest and support for the football movement to develop to this day.

Mr. Truong Manh Linh and Mr. Truong Sy Ba visited the residence of young players. Photo: SLNA FC

And the most practical thanks and gratitude to the generations of team leaders, the "heroes" of Nghe An football, SLNA's coaching staff and players through the years, parents, and SLNA's fan club will be fiery matches, full of professional impressions, full of emotions, or as we often say "play well to make the people happy, win to make the people happy".

Thank you for sharing and wish SLNA to "steadfastly move forward".

Mr. Truong Manh Linh was born in 1992 in Dien Ky commune, Dien Chau district, Nghe An. After completing secondary school in Hanoi, he studied abroad in Australia before becoming an employee and member of the Board of Directors of Tan Long Group Joint Stock Company.