Players Van Duc and Xuan Manh interact at Nghe An Newspaper

Van Duc and Xuan Manh talk about the Nghe An Newspaper Cup memories

Before entering the exchange program, the Editorial Board of Nghe An Newspaper awarded certificates of merit and bonuses to two players Van Duc and Xuan Manh - U23 Vietnam stars discovered and developed from the Nghe An Newspaper Cup.

Nghe An Newspaper awards players.

Van Duc: Always try your best to practice!

Answering a reader's question about his feelings when he was called to the national team at the last minute, Van Duc said that when the coach called him, he was extremely happy and only knew how to practice hard to not let the coach down.

Overview of the exchange.

Nghe An Newspaper Cup changed our lives!

Xuan Manh and Van Duc participated in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament in the Yen Thanh Children's Team in 2007. That year, Xuan Manh was the best player of the tournament; Van Duc was the top scorer, helping Yen Thanh Children's Team win the runner-up position.

"From that tournament, we were recruited by the coaches to join SLNA club, which was a milestone that changed our lives," Xuan Manh confided.

SLNA Club leaders and players participate in the exchange.

Van Duc laughed happily at an interesting question.

Pham Xuan Manh's mother: My son received the Best Player award, but I don't dare buy him a bicycle!

Ms. Phan Thi Ha, Pham Xuan Manh's mother, shared that in 2007, she and her son packed rice to go to Vinh to participate in the Youth - Children's Football Tournament of Nghe An Newspaper Cup. When they arrived in Vinh, they only had 10,000 VND left to buy a loaf of bread for their son, but both the son and his father and mother gave in to each other. After that, the family received help from the Yen Thanh district football team and stayed to cheer on their son's competition.

At the end of the tournament, Xuan Manh won the Best Player award, was awarded a Certificate of Merit and a gift of 500,000 VND by the Organizing Committee. "That was a large sum of money for the family at that time. At first, the family wanted to buy a bicycle for their child to go to school, but later they did not buy it, but instead used it to buy books and pay for his education because after that, Manh did not need to ride a bicycle because he was invited by Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh to Song Lam Nghe An. He told him to just go home and take care of the fields, Song Lam Nghe An would take care of everything for the children's education", we will always remember that moment.

Coach Duc Thang interacts with readers.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh: Thank you Nghe An Newspaper Cup!

Over the past 21 years, the Youth - Children's Football Cup of Nghe An Newspaper has discovered a series of talents for Song Lam Nghe An, for the province's football and for the whole country. Generations of players have become famous through the ages such as Cong Vinh, Van Quyen, Trong Hoang, Dinh Dong, Au Van Hoan... and now Van Duc, Xuan Manh are shining in the U23 shirt, bringing glory to the country.

Pham Xuan Manh shares with readers.

Coach Duc Thang: The source of your success is talent, but the Newspaper Cup discovered you!

One happy and lucky thing is that SLNA has provided many excellent players for the National teams. To gain a place in the U23 squad, Van Duc and Xuan Manh had to go through a training process from a young age, training the U groups of SLNA and the Nghe An Newspaper Cup played a very important role. The source of today's success is their talent but the Newspaper Cup discovered them. Many thanks to the tournament!

Coach Duc Thang talks about 2 young players

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh talks about youth training

Over the years, Nghe An football has had its ups and downs, but SLNA’s tradition has always been maintained. Despite financial difficulties, SLNA’s youth have always developed. SLNA’s academy is the cradle that trains many, many players for domestic clubs and the national team. Many times, SLNA has witnessed players who scored against us, who were once our students. We were saddened by the loss, but also very happy because the players have grown up and shone.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh also affirmed that although SLNA faces many financial difficulties compared to many other training centers, SLNA's advantage is the affection and trust of fans and the tradition of the homeland, so it still receives the trust of generations of people and players.

The two players shared about their future plans.

Xuan Manh: Will devote himself to SLNA but in a professional environment, nothing can be said in advance.

When asked about his long-term future with SLNA, Van Duc thanked the coaching staff and team leaders who have always created favorable conditions for him since he was young. "I will devote myself to SLNA. However, in a professional environment, it is impossible to predict the future," Van Duc affirmed.

Also asked the above question, Xuan Manh said, he only thinks about practicing and competing well without thinking about anything else and also wants to contribute more to SLNA.

All three players Cong Phuong, Xuan Manh and Van Duc were discovered and developed from the Youth - Children's Football Tournament of Nghe An Newspaper Cup in the colors of Do Luong and Yen Thanh districts. Before these three players, stars such as Cong Vinh, Van Quyen, Ho Tuan Tai, Que Ngoc Hai, Trong Hoang, Dinh Hoang... were also discovered from the Nghe An Newspaper Cup.

[Infographic] From Nghe An Newspaper Cup to continental playground

(Baonghean.vn) - In the U23 Vietnam team that is playing brilliantly at the U23 Asian Cup, there are 3 Nghe An players who have made a strong impression on fans and one thing these 3 stars have in common is that they were all discovered at the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament.