Trong Hoang and his burning passion in the Song Lam Nghe An shirt

In preparation for the 2022 season, many plans have been drawn up for the Nghe An team. The return of veteran players Que Ngoc Hai, Trong Hoang, and Dinh Hoang, although not yet bringing achievements, has been positively promoted in terms of spirit and the “Song Lam” fire. Among them, the most typical is probably the “veteran” Trong Hoang.

At the age of 34, Trong Hoang deserves to be one of the successful players, reaching the destination of success with all titles from youth level, club level to National Team and becoming the favorite child of many generations of coaches of the Vietnam National Team.

Calling Trong Hoang a veteran is not necessarily because of his age, but because of the extraordinary spirit and determination of a player who should have reached “retirement” age. Since the last matches of the Vietnamese team in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Trong Hoang suffered from a herniated disc.

This is not an injury, but a medical condition that is more serious than an injury. For a normal person, a herniated disc makes it difficult to walk, let alone play professional sports at a high intensity. People still jokingly say that he got a herniated disc because he was too strong and worked too hard.

That's right, at the national team level alone, he has played 72 matches, not counting the youth teams. In the V.League, Trong Hoang joined the first team of Song Lam Nghe An since 2007 and there are no exact figures on the number of matches he played at the club level, but that number is no less than 300 matches. Just since 2018, together with coach Park Hang-seo, Trong Hoang has won the 2018 AFF Cup, won the 2019 SEA Games Gold Medal, reached the Quarterfinals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, reached the 3rd qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Asia region...

Fans of Nghe An still remember the moment Trong Hoang, wearing Viettel's shirt, said goodbye to Song Lam Nghe An fans at Vinh Stadium in V.League 2019 with the sentiment: "My homeland is a place of deep affection. Every time I return to my homeland, I am moved by the affection I receive. Sometimes I still think about the two words "if only". When reading those sentiments, fans of Nghe An feel sorry for the wish of a sincere, emotional son who missed his appointment with his homeland.

And there is no more "if only", before the V.League 2022, returning to Song Lam Nghe An after many years of missed appointments. Eagerly waiting for the steps on the Vinh stadium's grass, he suffered from a serious illness and the ability to play again was almost gone. But with his strong will, Trong Hoang tried every way, found every teacher to treat him, hoping to return.

When sick, he prayed to all directions, sought dozens of doctors from North to South but without success, Trong Hoang decided to go to Ho Chi Minh City and rely on a doctor who used to work for the national team and like a miracle. He practiced recovery for a while with advanced therapies and regimens, but more importantly, he had a willpower that perhaps no normal person has.

After the 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in November 2022. The match was considered a tribute to the midfielder born in 1989, but he decided to stop because he did not feel fit enough to serve the team. He wanted to leave a mark on a wonderful journey with the best memories, but the most important thing was that he wanted to focus on the Song Lam Nghe An club for the rest of his career.

“Like a Phoenix, throwing itself into the fire, then resurrecting from its own ashes!”, Trong Hoang said about himself when he returned to the field to play for Song Lam Nghe An in the 2022 season. But it was not until 2023 that Trong Hoang scored goals for Song Lam Nghe An after 10 long years.

That goal after 10 years is not only meaningful to Trong Hoang, but also to Song Lam Nghe An, the decision to bring him back toLam River Nghe AnNot only does he have a professional element, he is truly a symbol, a necessary example for young players of Song Lam Nghe An to follow. The senior of Song Lam Nghe An not only creates, scores, and competes, but is also ready to be present at hot spots to defend at any time possible. That is truly a wonderful spirit of a warrior.

After the victory over Hanoi Club at Hang Day, captain Que Ngoc Hai could not hide his feelings about his senior: “The return of Trong Hoang after injury to help the young players is a wonderful thing. I admire Trong Hoang's fighting spirit, he always enters the field with the highest fighting spirit. That is what makes me and the young players proud of our senior.”

When Que Ngoc Hai was just starting out in the first team, Trong Hoang was already a big star of Vietnamese football. However, in 1,339 minutes (16/18 starting matches) playing for Song Lam Nghe An in the last two seasons, Trong Hoang really showed the young players and everyone that miracles can still happen, if we never give up and work and practice seriously. Perhaps Trong Hoang is not only an example for the juniors at Song Lam Nghe An, but also an example for all young Vietnamese players. A lesson in determination, overcoming difficulties, ethics and dedication to the profession./.