Going home is always better...

The story of the live-in servant…

For the past seven or eight seasons, since Vietnamese football truly embarked on the path of professionalism, every new season has brought with it the familiar phrases of "talent drain" and "rebuilding with youth teams" for football officials and fans in Nghe An province. Though they don't want to, what can they do when, despite trying every possible method and maneuvering, poverty and hardship continue to plague the Nghe An team? While proud to be a cradle of football talent, SLNA has also experienced bitter disappointment as its most promising players, trained and developed, have left the club one after another. With no other option, SLNA has watched its most outstanding talents – Cong Vinh, Hong Son, and more recently Trong Hoang, Van Hoan, Van Binh, and especially the symbol of loyalty and dedication Huy Hoang – depart empty-handed. Fans are understandably worried, and SLNA's leadership acknowledges that rebuilding will be very difficult, but what can they do? Nghe An is simply too "poor."

Cong Vinh rejected a lucrative salary offer from Sapporo to return and dedicate himself to the team from Nghe An province – the place that nurtured his talent.

The traveler…

Hong Son moved to Hanoi and seemed to have it all – money and fame – but perhaps he could never forget those afternoons at Vinh Stadium, bathed in the golden hues of SLNA jerseys, with millions of passionate fans behind him. In the capital, Cong Vinh had everything economically; huge contracts from Chairman Hien and Chairman Kien provided him with a comfortable life. However, it's impossible to say that his four years in Hanoi brought him the same happiness he once felt: "For me, only SLNA is the team that gives me a special feeling," when he played for HN T&T. Hong Tien was similar; a moment of impulsiveness almost led him to betray his hometown team when he played for HN T&T at Vinh Stadium. Then there were Ngoc Tu, Cong Manh, Van Vinh, Hai Nam… when they left for new lands, they were no longer themselves. As Thuat also had two forgettable years at Binh Dinh, center-back Minh Duc was also unlucky, suffering one injury after another…

Most recently, seeing Van Binh disappear against the HN T&T midfield, Van Hoan being a weak link in the B.Binh Duong defense, and Trong Hoang helplessly watching his team lose in the first round of the V.League 2014, no one would think they were once the heroes of Nghe An football.

It's hard to explain, but it seems that those who left were no longer themselves, completely different from what they achieved when they wore the yellow jersey of SLNA.

The day of return…

The 2013 V.League season will be a memorable milestone in Cong Vinh's career as he returned to Nghe An in the most unexpected way. SLNA rescued Vinh, a two-time Golden Ball winner in the prime of his playing career, from unemployment. Vinh's return to Song Lam was like a fish finding water. It can be said that in the 2013 season, Vinh was the driving force pulling the Song Lam train forward, and Song Lam also served as a springboard for Vinh's success, scoring 14 goals with five rounds remaining. Cong Vinh's move to Japan was a loss for SLNA, and understanding the sentiment of Nghe An football, Vinh kept his promise to return when SLNA entered the 2014 V.League season, facing the departure of many key players and the team desperately needing Vinh, even though Sapporo offered him a dream contract. Vinh happily stayed, as he said, Nghe An is his home, "a child doesn't despise their poor parents," simply put, Cong Vinh and SLNA, "we belong together."

Nhu Thuat almost retired and found another job after two forgettable years in Binh Dinh, but the affection of the people involved in Nghe An football brought him back to SLNA. And the way Thuat repaid that kindness couldn't have been more wonderful when he had 15 minutes of his best performance, scoring a beautiful goal that brought SLNA three valuable points in the opening match of the 2014 V.League season. It's too early to say Nhu Thuat has returned to his peak form, but with SLNA, Thuat has rediscovered himself.

This V.League season has also witnessed the return of players who had been away from home, with Tài Em returning to Long An, and Minh Đức and Đức Cường returning to SLNA after a period of playing in both the North and South…

With the economic crisis showing no signs of abating, creating difficulties for club owners, and blockbuster signings becoming less common, and football gradually returning to its true value, is returning to contribute to one's homeland, the place that nurtured one's talent, a way to go away and then come back, perhaps the best approach?

Ba Tuan

(Hung Dung - Vinh City)