Center back Thai Ba Sang and the dream of becoming 'little Huy Hoang'

Born in 1999 in Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu, Thai Ba Sang loves football like many other children his age. Not only that, this boy is also lucky in that his parents often take him to Vinh to watch SLNA play. The childhood memories of this active boy are the intense football matches when center back Huy Hoang was still playing.

Since then, Thai Ba Sang has nurtured the dream of one day playing as well as the SLNA captain, playing at Vinh Stadium under the enthusiastic cheers of his hometown audience.

In the summer of 2011, when he heard that SLNA Club was coming to Quynh Luu to recruit players, Thai Ba Sang immediately asked his parents to register him to join. However, when standing in front of SLNA scouts, Ba Sang did not have enough confidence to juggle the ball and show off his skills.

Fortunately, this boy was given the opportunity to do it again and again and conquered the coaches. He officially joined SLNA at the age of 12 in the joy and pride of his family, friends and neighbors.

Center back Thai Ba Sang in the U19 Vietnam shirt. Photo: FBNV

Everything became much more difficult than what this boy imagined. Originally pampered by his parents, when entering SLNA, Ba Sang had to get used to a new life, had to wash his own clothes, had to take care of himself and live in a strict training environment. After each practice hour as well as after dinner, this boy closed his room door and cried because he missed home and his mother.

But then the joy and passion for playing football also helped Ba Sang to relieve his homesickness. The boy was determined to pursue his choice and dream, worked hard to practice and had initial successes. In fact, among the players born in 1999, Ba Sang, Van Lam, Ngoc Anh were the rare players who showed themselves. This generation of players was used to failures in youth tournaments but also helped them become more mature and stronger after each tournament.

First, at the 2015 National U17 Finals, Thai Ba Sang and U17 SLNA only won the bronze medal. And at the 2016 National U17 Finals, the central defender from Quynh Luu and his teammates only ranked 3rd in Group A and were eliminated right from the group stage. Next, at the 2017 National U19 Finals, Ba Sang and his teammates continued to be eliminated right from the group stage and had to watch PVF and Hanoi play in the semi-finals.

Immediately after that defeat, the 1999-born players like Ba Sang were promoted to the SLNA U21 team to participate in the National U21 Finals, competing with seniors like Pham Xuan Manh and Phan Van Duc. And at this tournament in 2017, SLNA U21 with a young force still brought home a valuable bronze medal for Nghe An football.

Center back Thai Ba Sang (26) is 21 years old this year but has played 2 seasons in the First Division before returning to SLNA. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Coming to the 2018 National U19 Finals, Ba Sang and U19 SLNA once again won the bronze medal. That was the season in which U19 SLNA only lost to rival U19 Hanoi in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout. There was no championship at the youth level, but the reward for Thai Ba Sang was 3 consecutive years wearing the U19 Vietnam national team jersey. Not only that, this player was also chosen as captain of U18 Vietnam, U19 Vietnam in the 2017 and 2018 Southeast Asian Championships.

If he had a better height, Thai Ba Sang (1m76) would have been in the SLNA first team registration squad in 2018. This player, along with Pham Duc Thong, came to Pho Hien Club in the First Division on loan. It can be said that 2 years was a period of time that helped Ba Sang grow up a lot, contributing a lot to the team.

In the 2019 season, Pho Hien Club finished 2nd overall, with a great chance to be promoted to V. League but lost to Thanh Hoa in the play-off match. Without the chance to play at the top level in Pho Hien's shirt, Thai Ba Sang was called up by SLNA to prepare for V. League 2020.

Thai Ba Sang in SLNA shirt. Photo: Xuan Thuy

Coming to coach Quang Truong, Ba Sang was highly appreciated for his experience, smart and agile playing style. Not only that, the boy was also mentored by his idol Huy Hoang. With the strict physical requirements of a V.League center-back, Ba Sang was initially tested by SLNA's coaching staff in the right-back position.

Then, captain Hoang Van Khanh got injured after the first 2 matches. The person chosen to play with Gustavo Santos was not The Nhat but Ba Sang. In the first 3 matches of V.League, Ba Sang and the Brazilian foreign player continued their 5-match unbeaten streak and did not concede a goal.

In the match against Hanoi FC, if Dang Van Lam was the shining star with the only goal against Van Cong, helping SLNA win 1-0, then in defense, Ba Sang and his teammates also played a great match, locking down the capital team's top stars such as Van Quyet, Pape Omar, Romario.

"As a young player, my friends and I always entered the field with the spirit of having nothing to lose. My idol is Huy Hoang and I am lucky to have him guiding me in every training session and every match."

Center back Thai Ba Sang

Instat statistics of SLNA's central defender Thai Ba Sang after round 11 of V.League 2020. Graphics: TK

Although SLNA fell into crisis afterwards, the immaturity of Ba Sang and the young SLNA players was exposed, but that was enough for him to score points in the eyes of coach Park Hang-seo. After 11 matches in V.League 2020, he had 8 matches (770) minutes. Along with Bui Hoang Viet Anh (Hanoi Club), these are two rare young central defenders who have played over 700 minutes in the National Championship.

In terms of expertise, Ba Sang is a player with a foundation, the only thing he lacks is experience and time to perfect his ability to read situations. His physique is not too good, but in return, Ba Sang has a fighting spirit that is typical of Nghe An. In the hands of Coach Park, Ba Sang is expected to help the Korean coach reduce the worry of not having Dinh Trong, Duy Manh, Thanh Chung in the U22 Vietnam squad.

After the 10-day training session at U22 Vietnam, Ba Sang will return to V.League and his chances of playing will be less when Van Khanh recovers and returns from injury. However, although he is not the main player at SLNA, for a player who is only 21 years old, becoming a high-class supporting player at V.League, a promising factor of U22 Vietnam at SEA Games 21 next year, the dream of the young Thai Ba Sang has become half true.

Roll call of 6 young SLNA players called by coach Park Hang-seo to join U22 Vietnam

(Baonghean.vn) - In the list of 48 players called up by Coach Park Hang-seo to gather in August to prepare for SEA Games 31, Song Lam Nghe An contributed the most players with 6 faces. And 5/6 of them have played in V.League 2020.