Nghi Loc teenagers and the spectacular "comeback"

(Baonghean) - After many years of not participating in the youth football content of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament, this year, the fresh return of the Nghi Loc Youth Team has "made a difference". The surprise came right from the qualifying round, when the Nghi Loc Youth Team was drawn into the "death group" - Group B - with the presence of the reigning champion Youth Team of Vinh City, the Nghia Dan Youth Team with "strong soldiers, strong generals"...

This was a difficult group with strong forces of youth football in the province. However, Nghi Loc Youth Team surprisingly overcame everything: convincingly defeated Vinh City Youth Team with a score of 2-0 in the first match of Group B; continued to make Nghia Dan Youth Team convinced with the final result of 5-0. Not stopping there, in the semi-finals, "clashed" with Dien Chau Youth Team - considered to have a squad of players that were superior in both physical strength, technique, and playing tactics - but in the end, still had to accept defeat against Nghi Loc Youth Team with a close score of 1-2.

Watching each match of Nghi Loc Youth Team, it is easy to see the confidence on the players' faces and the certainty in each move. Mr. Nguyen Sy Tuan - Deputy Director of Nghi Loc District Culture - Sports - Tourism Center, head of Nghi Loc Sports Delegation in this year's tournament, shared: "Be confident but not subjective, underestimate the opponent, that is the football motto that we always remind our players. The victory in this season demonstrates the correctness in the process of investing, selecting, and training players; along with the success of the socialization of youth football in the district. To get the glorious gold cup of the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth - Children Football Tournament, first of all, we must mention the attention and close direction of the authorities at all levels and leaders of the Department of Culture - Sports of Nghi Loc District.

Many weeks before the new season started, the Nghi Loc District Culture, Sports and Tourism Center coordinated with the district Education Department to grasp the summer vacation and summer activities of the students, and at the same time, organized careful selection and trial matches. Along with that, the propaganda and mobilization work for parents to help students have the most comfortable mentality when competing was carried out smoothly by the staff of the District Culture, Sports and Tourism Center in coordination with the departments and organizations at the commune level. As a district with a large area and a large population, the players in this year's youth team come from 9 communes in the whole district, so the mass mobilization work encountered many difficulties. However, with the determination to invest heavily and achieve high results in this year's tournament, we have thoroughly implemented it. Even through the mass mobilization work, many players' families are willing to contribute their efforts to the district team such as supporting transportation, buying practice balls...

The goal that raised the score to 3 - 2 between Thieu Nien Nghi Loc and Yen Thanh. Photo: Ho Phuong

In particular, 2 weeks before the tournament, the players of Nghi Loc Youth Team were provided with food, accommodation and concentrated activities by the leaders and the Department of Culture - Sports of the district, with high standards, ensuring the best physical strength and quality for training and competition. In addition to the head of the delegation and the coach, Nghi Loc Youth Team also has 2 general managers and 1 caregiver. All the best conditions are given to the young players.

According to coach Le Trung Hieu, the success of the Nghi Loc Youth Football Team this season also has to do with the secret factors - considered the "golden key" on the journey to the dream of winning the cup. That is the team of players who are physically and technically equal, carefully selected and have experience participating in large and small football tournaments at all levels. "Some players have just participated in the National Phu Dong Sports Festival Football Tournament for primary and secondary school students - Milo Cup, the rest are players who grew up from the children's team that participated in the tournament last year. They have played football together for a long time and have gone through many tournaments, so they understand each other's playing style very well, which is favorable for this year's tournament" - Coach Le Trung Hieu shared. The players of the Nghi Loc Youth Football Team have the advantage of playing in many positions, easily switching functions on the field, thus creating a surprising and unpredictable playing style for the opposing team. The final match between the Nghi Loc Youth Football Team and the Yen Thanh Youth Football Team is an example. At the beginning of the first half, although they were behind by 2 goals, Nghi Loc players did not let psychological pressure affect the quality of the match. On the contrary, the desire to win helped the Nghi Loc TN team show perseverance in the play and have factors capable of turning the game around.

The victory of Nghi Loc Youth Team this season is the success of the selection and training of young players in the district. At the same time, the joy of playing football has contributed to creating unforgettable childhood memories and an excited spirit for the children before the new school year.

Phuong Chi