Football player Dinh Dong 'scores the goal of a lifetime'
(Baonghean) - After receiving a one-year ban from the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation), Dinh Dong was at times disheartened, but in misfortune there was good fortune; he "scored the goal of his life" with a beautiful wife and a cozy little home. Not long after, Dinh Dong moved to Thanh Hoa with a multi-million dollar contract and was recalled to the national team under coach Huu Thang.
Dinh Dong was born in Anh Son district, where football is not really developed, and to "nurture" his passion, Dong had to work very hard. He has good skills, knows how to communicate and behave appropriately, but this defender has also encountered many difficulties in his career.
In the 2008 V.League season, during SLNA's away match against HN.ACB, Dinh Dong, Hong Tien, Huy Hoang, and Viet Nam were criticized for playing unfairly, with the intention of helping the home team (which included many SLNA players) avoid relegation. Following this match, Dinh Dong and the three aforementioned players were suspended for the remainder of the season.
 |
| Dinh Dong (on the right) in the Vietnamese national team jersey. |
Despite his talent, Dinh Dong only managed to participate in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos through a "last-minute" qualification. Although he received his ticket to Laos last, Dinh Dong impressed coach Calisto at that tournament. Many still remember the image of a tenacious defender relentlessly chasing down opposing strikers. Dinh Dong contributed significantly to the silver medal won by the Vietnam U23 team, and subsequently, he was rewarded with a call-up to the senior national team.
For a long time, Dinh Dong was a key player at SLNA and always featured in the Vietnamese national team's campaigns. In 2013, when his contract expired, Dinh Dong, along with Quang Tinh, accepted a small signing bonus to stay and contribute to their hometown team for another two years. They thought they would be able to play peacefully, but unexpectedly, a foul on Anh Hung resulted in Dinh Dong receiving a record-breaking penalty: a suspension for the remainder of the 2014 season.
That was also a turbulent year, with many tragedies befalling Dinh Dong. At one point, rumors circulated that, due to pressure, Dinh Dong had retired from the sport and switched to another job. But at this time, the strength of character of a man came to the fore, and Dinh Dong calmly faced everything. At the end of 2014, realizing that family was the most important thing, Dong decided to get married.
| After returning in the 2015 season, Dong faced fierce competition for a starting position with younger players at SLNA. Things only changed for Dinh Dong after his two-year contract with SLNA expired and he moved to FLC Thanh Hoa with a signing bonus of 1.7 billion VND per year. Furthermore, Dinh Dong's position became almost untouchable. Not to mention, thanks to his regular playing time, Dinh Dong made his mark, and when Huu Thang took over the national team, his former coach called him up. After so many years, Dinh Dong was able to return to the feeling of being part of the national team, giving his all for national pride. Besides his professional career, during this time, Dinh Dong also received good news off the field: his wife gave birth, adding laughter and happiness to their family. |
Motivated by many factors, Dong became even more confident in contributing more to the national team. It wasn't due to favoritism from his former coach, but rather because Dinh Dong demonstrated his professional skills. During the long preparation period for the 2016 AFF Cup, Dinh Dong played well and deserved his starting position on the left wing of the Vietnamese national team. For a player who has faced many challenges, achieving almost everything good at this time is like a dream, and Dinh Dong said he can only say, thank you to life for being so lucky.
Vinh Liem
