Striker Ho Tuan Tai joins Ho Chi Minh City FC.

Before joining Ho Chi Minh City FC,Ho Tuan TaiHo Tuan Tai was a target for SHB Da Nang. However, during negotiations, the two sides failed to reach an agreement. It is understood that the Da Nang team did not agree with the salary demands made by Ho Tuan Tai. Immediately, the 1995-born player switched to working with Ho Chi Minh City FC and quickly reached an agreement.

Moving to Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Tuan Tai will have the opportunity to play alongside players from Nghe An such as Sam Ngoc Duc and Vu Quang Nam. Furthermore, the current Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City FC, Nguyen Huu Thang, is also the former coach of the 1995-born striker. The two previously worked together at the club.Vietnam U22At the 2017 SEA Games, it was a very forgettable tournament for both Ho Tuan Tai and former coach Nguyen Huu Thang.

Ho Tuan Tai has been SLNA's top scorer for the past two seasons. (Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy)

Considering it from a broader perspective...V.LeagueCurrently, Ho Tuan Tai is among the best domestic strikers. From talent to playing experience, the player from Hung Nguyen is in no way inferior to Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Cong Phuong, and Ha Duc Chinh - three strikers who are regularly featured in the national team.Coach Park Hang-seoHe was recently called up to the Vietnam national team, alongside veteran player Nguyen Anh Duc.

Since joining SLNA's first team (in the 2015 season), Ho Tuan Tai has played a total of 87 matches, totaling 5562 minutes, and scored 22 goals (in the V.League alone). His first goal for the Nghe An team was a strike that increased the score to 2-0 in SLNA's 4-0 victory over Thanh Hoa in Round 6 of the 2015 V.League. At that time, Ho Tuan Tai was not yet 20 years old.

In recent seasons, Ho Tuan Tai has rarely been deployed by the SLNA coaching staff in his preferred position as a center forward. Unable to compete with foreign strikers, the player from Hung Nguyen has had to play as a right winger. This is why Ho Tuan Tai hasn't been able to fully utilize his goal-scoring instincts, wasting numerous promising opportunities.

In the 2020 V.League season, the former Vietnam U19 and U22 national team player scored 5 goals in 17 matches, playing a total of 1353 minutes. This means that it took almost 271 minutes for Ho Tuan Tai to score a goal. As mentioned above, one of the reasons why "Pham Van Quyen's cousin" didn't achieve an impressive goal-scoring record is because he played in a position that wasn't his forte.