Nam Dinh football team won the National Super Cup

Once "boycotted" by fans because of poor performance, only ranked 5th in V-League 2023 season despite large investment, Nam Dinh football has made a strong change when winning both V-League and the National Super Cup match of the 2023-2024 season.

The pinnacle of modern tactics

Coach Vu Hong Viet is considered an important factor in the recent success of Nam Dinh Green Steel. Under the leadership of this 45-year-old coach, the team from Thanh Nam was crowned V-League champion for the first time and won the National Super Cup. Mr. Viet is highly appreciated by his colleagues for his professional ability, coaching experience and modern football philosophy.

Thanh Hoa defeated Hanoi Police in the 2023 National Super Cup match held at Hang Day Stadium, eliminated Nam Dinh in the semi-finals of the National Cup and is the team that won this tournament for 2 consecutive years. However, in 4 times facing Thanh Hoa last season, Nam Dinh won 2 and drew 1, including a convincing 3-0 victory in the 2023-2024 National Super Cup match held at Thien Truong Stadium on August 31.

Many opinions say that coach Vu Hong Viet is lucky to own a top V-League star squad, including national players and high-quality foreign players. However, looking at Nam Dinh's performance last season, experts highly appreciate the ability to rotate players, arrange the squad, and use personnel appropriately of the coach from Thai Binh .

Rafaelson wishes to have Vietnamese nationality to contribute to the national team. Photo: Nam Dinh Club

Although playing away from home in the 2023-2024 National Super Cup, Thanh Hoa was very proactive in keeping pace and ready to attack Nam Dinh. Throughout the first half, Coach Popov's team created many dangerous attacking situations but could not convert the opportunities into goals. In the beginning of the second half, Coach Vu Hong Viet's tactical changes and personnel exchanges in the squad helped Nam Dinh play better, dominate and bring home 3 goals, including a double from foreign player Rafaelson.

Desire to contribute to the Vietnam team

Rafaelson is the best player in the history of V-League, has set a series of scoring records in the Vietnamese professional playground. With two goals in the Super Cup match, Rafaelson increased the total number of goals scored in 4 matches against Thanh Hoa last season to 8.

Possessing skillful individual techniques, the ability to accelerate quickly and shoot dangerously and diversely, the 27-year-old Brazilian striker has become the most efficient striker at the moment. Last season, Rafaelson scored 31 goals in 24 matches, becoming the "Top scorer" with the most goals throughout a V-League tournament.

With the goal of winning domestic tournaments with Nam Dinh and going deep in the AFC Champions League 2 in the 2024-2025 season, Rafaelson does not hide his desire to become a naturalized player to play for the Vietnamese national team. He said: "I am eager to contribute to the Vietnamese national team. I consider Vietnam my second home and want to devote my entire football career to this country."

After learning about the conditions for obtaining Vietnamese citizenship, striker Rafaelson officially submitted his application to the Department of Justice of Nam Dinh province in August 2024. In addition, Rafaelson also has a Vietnamese wife and is living happily in Thanh Nam.

If naturalized successfully, Rafaelson will help Vietnamese football optimize resources and have the opportunity to be called up to the national team. Currently, Nam Dinh Club is making efforts to help this foreign player complete the process of obtaining citizenship and then realize his dream of joining the national team.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/bong-da-nam-dinh-len-ngoi-sieu-cup-quoc-gia-196240901200842538.htm