Cao Cuong and Vo Thanh Son had an emotional reunion with memories of the former football star
Among the talented strikers of Vietnamese football in the early years after the country's reunification, we must mention two famous strikers: Nguyen Cao Cuong of the Army Club and Vo Thanh Son of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry.
One was a typical striker of the North, winning the top scorer award in the 1982-1983 national championship season with 22 goals. The other was a typical striker of the South, also winning the title of top scorer in the 1981-1982 national championship season with 15 goals.
Former famous striker Cao Cuong (left) and Vo Thanh Son
PHOTO: Contributor
Both of them not only scored goals very well but also had special qualities that few strikers at that time had. Cao Cuong was extremely sensitive in turning in narrow spaces, dribbling the ball at high speed and then running and kicking very accurately like an arrow. Vo Thanh Son was extremely skilled with the folding kick in the penalty area that became his trademark. Just by seeing the ball still floating in the air flying towards him, he immediately launched an extremely precise kick, scoring a goal like "lightning".
It was the outstanding talent of these two strikers that fascinated football fans. They played an important role in attracting a large number of fans to the stadium, helping the Vietnamese national championship in the first years after the country's reunification to always be very exciting and have many interesting goals. So much so that at that time, there were heated debates from the press and viewers about who was better, Cao Cuong, born in 1954, and Vo Thanh Son, born in 1948, who deserved to be the number 1 striker of Vietnamese football.
2 veteran teams Saigon FC (red shirt) and Thanh Long Quan (purple shirt)
PHOTO: Contributor
Nearly 40 years after retiring from the football field, Cao Cuong and Vo Thanh Son unexpectedly reunited in the US. Cao Cuong is part of the coaching staff and can play if his physical condition allows when participating in the team of veterans over 60 years old playing in the US tournament. Vo Thanh Son has been traveling back and forth to Vietnam for many years to participate in charity work to help many former players in difficult circumstances. He is part of the advisory board of Thanh Long Quan football team, a famous football team in the Vietnamese community in Santa Ana, California.
These two former strikers "met" when the Vietnamese team of former famous players had just arrived in the US and had an opening match of "testing fire" against the Thanh Long Quan team. Former goalkeeper Tran Van Thinh of the Saigon team of former famous players said that this "killer" duo was excited to meet each other again, talking about football and life for nearly 40 years.
Veteran football team Saigon FC plays in the US
PHOTO: Contributor
Despite missing former Vietnam national team center back Do Khai (who arrived late in the US) and several other players from the US who have not joined the team, the former famous player team named Saigon FC had a pretty impressive start in the US. Mr. Tran Van Thinh said that because this was a test match, assembling the team, the Vietnamese former famous player team was mostly made up of players over 60 years old. The two teams played with great effort and tied 2-2.
Former Saigon Port goalkeeper Tran Van Tay, former striker Cao Cuong (middle) and former defender and coach Le Dinh Thang (right)
PHOTO: Contributor
Coach Le Dinh Thang (right) showed his "cool hand" against opponent Huu Tran of Thanh Long Quan.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cao-cuong-va-vo-thanh-son-hoi-ngo-cam-xuc-tai-my-cuu-danh-thu-khoi-dau-an-tuong-185250625220457924.htm
Comment (0)