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His teammates credit right winger Nguyen Vu Phong with relieving Vietnamese football of its long run of bad luck.
It was Phong’s two goals in the 2008 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup group stage that pushed Vietnam to a 3-2 victory over Malaysia on December 8, 2008, making it Vietnam’s first win in an 11 match losing streak.
Phong is now considered a hero back in his home province of Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta for lifting the team out of a slump that began in 2000. It was in March of that year when Vinh Long was relegated to the lower Second Division after a group of players chased down a referee during a clash with Dong Thap.
The penalty was the beginning of a lengthy downhill streak for the team.
An up-and-comer
Due to a lack of investment in the team, Vinh Long has suffered since 2000. The team failed to make the First Division, let alone the top-flight V-League and any gains made in the distant past had long been forgotten.
During those years, a young and passionate Phong was honing his football skills on the rice fields with his older brother after school. Despite the lackluster performance of his home province’s team, Phong remained keen to enter the sport.
However, the small-statured player faced an uphill battle as he tried to prove his talent was more important than his height. He was so thin and short, he was denied admittance to a course opened to gifted young athletes in 1999.
He stood just 1.64 meters tall while players were required to measure at least 1.66 meters to be admitted to the trainee team in Vinh Long Province.
He was eventually admitted after district football coaches signed a petition and delivered it to the provincial football training center.
Phong slowly began to prove himself and gained recognition as the best scorer of the Third Division in 2002 with six goals. It was an effort that contributed to Vinh Long being promoted to the Second Division that year.
Recognizing his great potential, national team coached Ho Thu called the up-and-comer to join the U18 team when he turned 17.
Phong played skillfully in the U18 Southeast Asian competition in 2003.
In 2005, Phong was called up to play in the U23 team at the 23rd Southeast Asian Games when he was 20 and played in the Second Division.
“The then team coach Alfred Riedl and senior teammates helped me a lot; so I fit in well and was very confident,” Phong said.
An unforgettable triumph
After helping his team, Binh Duong, win the 2008 Super Cup title on January 4, 2009, Phong traveled home to visit his family.
His father Nguyen Vu Son said, “I am happier than any other Vietnamese because my youngest son has brought happiness to the whole country. This is very special for my family. We are going to have a grand celebration on Tet [the Lunar New Year holiday].”
“I thought 2008 would be a year to forget, yet it turned out to be wonderful,” Phong said. “My second goal to secure a 3-2 win over Malaysia in Phuket four minutes from time was a fortuitous long-range goal but it was wonderful.”
Phong launched a long ball that bounced over surprised Malaysian goalkeeper Helmi Eliza Elias.
For Phong, the opener in the match against Thailand in the final first leg would be the most unforgettable moment in his football career to date.
Enjoying his hard-earned success, Phong says he hopes football in Vinh Long Province will receive more funding for sustainable development into the future.
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NGUYEN VU PHONG
Position: Right winger for Becamex Binh Duong
Born: February 6, 1985
Height: 1.70 meters
Weight: 60 kg
Home province: Vinh Long
Awards: Winner of Vietnam’s 2007 Bronze Ball; played for Binh Duong who won the 2007-2008 V-League and Super Cup championships; part of the U23 team that won the 2005 Southeast Asian Games silver medal.
Phong also played on Vietnam’s national team which advanced to the 2007 Asian Cup quarterfinals; scoring four goals to help the Olympic team progress to the third round of the 2008 Olympic qualifiers. He scored two vital goals at the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup contributing to Vietnam’s first AFF Cup championship in 49 years.
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Reported by NHAT HA HOTEL
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