Striker Tran Hai Dang - 'Top scorer' of U11 SLNA and impressive academic achievements

From "Top scorer" U11 SLNA

Born into a family with a tradition of studiousness in Hoang Mai town, his mother is a teacher, but Tran Hai Dang (born 2008) inherited his passion for sports, especially football, from his father.

In the third grade, at the Quynh Thien commune children's football tournament, Hai Dang's natural talent for playing football was discovered by teacher Ho Huu Tien. After that tournament, Hai Dang joined the SLNA amateur gifted football class in Hoang Mai town.

At the 2018 Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament, Tran Hai Dang played very impressively but could not help Hoang Mai FC overcome Nghi Loc FC in the semi-finals.

However, that was the season that NĐ Hoàng Mai won the style award. From here, SLNA scouts kept an eye on this 10-year-old talent.

In 2019, Hai Dang continued to wear the Hoang Mai ND shirt to compete in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth-ND Football Tournament. But the championship was once again missed for Hai Dang when the home team lost to Thai Hoa in the quarter-finals on penalties. Witnessing Hai Dang's innate talent and ideal physique, SLNA did not give up the desire to bring him back to train.

Young talent Tran Hai Dang received the title of "Top scorer" and the best team of the National Children's Football Tournament. Photo: Thanh Tung

In the opening match of the final round that just took place in Dak Lak, Hai Dang scored a hat-trick to help U11 SLNA win their first match 3-0. In the 3-0 victory over Quang Ngai, Hai Dang also scored 2 goals. In the quarter-final match against SHB Da Nang, Hai Dang not only scored 1 goal but also successfully converted 1 penalty, bringing U11 SLNA to the semi-finals.

Facing highly rated opponent U11 PVF, Hai Dang once again proved his talent with 2 goals to help U11 SLNA overcome and win on penalties to enter the final.

In the championship match, Hai Dang completed his impressive performance at the National Children's Finals with 2 goals against Hanoi, helping U11 SLNA win the championship with an undefeated record. As for Hai Dang, he became the "Top scorer" of the tournament with 9 goals.

Player Hai Dang of U11 SLNA has impressive academic achievements. Photo: NVCC

Despite Hai Dang's football talent and his father's support, looking at Hai Dang's academic achievements, the family of the young talent born in 2008 still hesitated between letting their child pursue a career in sports or education.

Since grade 2, Hai Dang has been an excellent student at school, participating in the English Olympiad on the Internet and winning second prize at the provincial level in grade 3. In grade 3, Hai Dang continued to win first prize in grades 3 and 4. And in grade 4, Hai Dang won the Encouragement Prize in the National English Olympiad on the Internet.

In addition, Hai Dang also won the second prize in Hoang Mai town chess for 2 years, the first prize in Hoang Mai town primary school Olympic (2018), the third prize in the province-wide English Challenge (2019) and many other academic achievements.

Hai Dang's academic achievements are considered to be among the best in Hoang Mai town. Not only is he a good student and good at soccer, he is also very active as the Team Leader of Quynh Thien Primary School.

Hai Dang's family and coaches at the National Children's Championship award ceremony. Photo: NVCC

“Hai Dang inherited his father’s passion and talent for sports. From his love of football, he is very passionate about learning about geography and society. Every morning when he wakes up, his first habit is to immediately update information about sports.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai, Hai Dang's mother

Which way to go?

"Hai Dang has a talent for football, the family creates maximum conditions and invests in all aspects for the child to develop. However, to decide for Hai Dang to follow the path of professional football, the family still has to listen to the child's wishes and not rush to decide. Of course, every parent wants their child to develop comprehensively to take care of their future life. Hai Dang's father is very supportive, but as a mother, I feel a bit worried because the football career is inherently full of thorns and harshness. Of course, every path must have challenges and hard work," Hai Dang's mother confided.

Tran Hai Dang is the brightest star of U11 SLNA at the National Children's Finals. Photo: Thanh Tung

“Tran Hai Dang is a special case in football. Hopefully, Hai Dang will continue to be given the opportunity to develop his talent, while at the same time maintaining his studies to develop his future career. To become a professional player, passion and hard work are the top factors. At this time, the final decision still belongs to Hai Dang’s family.”

Coach Nguyen Ngoc Anh - Head of SLNA Youth Training Department.

Hai Dang's story with SLNA is not a rare case in Nghe An football. Young talent Nguyen Ngoc Trung, who won the 2017 National U11 Championship with SLNA, also had to choose between education and football. In the recent championship of SLNA U13, this player from Thai Hoa was both the captain and the mainstay of the team.

Previously, players such as former national player Nguyen Minh Duc, player Nguyen Trong Hoang and many other players also pursued their passion for football, while still ensuring their jobs and becoming typical players of Nghe An football in particular and Vietnamese football in general./.

Defeating Hanoi, SLNA won the National Children's Championship for the third consecutive time

(Baonghean.vn) - Overcoming U11 PVF in the semi-final after a nerve-wracking penalty shootout, U11 SLNA once again demonstrated the mettle of the defending champions, overwhelmingly defeating U11 Hanoi in the final match of the 2019 National Children's Football Tournament.