'Playing' on Facebook is also a philosophy for guiding young players

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan was once known as a strict teacher with his students, even in their daily life. The generation of players Nguyen Quang Hai, Doan Van Hau... are no strangers to the prohibitions on using phones and going on social networks during the youth team training period under the guidance of the coach from Khanh Hoa .

However, in the past year or so, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has suddenly become more active on Facebook than before. Many people even joke that the captain of the U17, U20 and Olympic Vietnam teams speaks on social media more than he does at press conferences.

Small changes in personal preferences and habits actually reflect changes in Coach Hoang Anh Tuan’s approach to working with young players. The head coach is not only a technical and tactical instructor, but also plays a supporting, consulting, and guiding role for his 18- and 20-year-old students as they begin to learn the lessons of adult life.

- Fans have recently become familiar with the image of coach Hoang Anh Tuan working "hard" on Facebook.

In my opinion, everything has two sides. In the past, if you wanted to find information, you needed a newspaper, even half a day, a day or three days to find it. Now, you can have it all in just a few minutes. In the past, if you didn't watch the night match, you had to read the newspaper. Now, you can just wake up in the morning and check your phone. That's the advantage.

On the other hand, social media has all the participants. There are many reviews and feedbacks that we have to accept. I always accept this issue, even if it can be criticism. Of course, I have to filter and cannot accept everything.

Before, I used to take away players' phones during training sessions. Now, they can use them freely. Of course, there are times when I have to ban players from using social media, during certain matches.

- Your views on using social media are very different from your previous impressions of a strict coach who often forbade his students from going online or using their phones during training sessions. What is the reason for this change?

I look at it from my own perspective. I am over 50 years old, I see things differently than when I was 20, or 40. The same goes for players. Just like with children of different ages, the intervention of parents in their personal lives is different.

Players aged 19-20 have their own personal decisions to make and they have to take responsibility for them. They are getting older and I myself need to change the way I impose and demand. I realise that sometimes they need freedom of mind and thinking.

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has made many changes in the way he works with young players. (Photo: VFF)

- He allows the players to be more relaxed, but there must still be certain rules.

I tell my students to choose the simplest things. For example, a football match can be won and lost. When participating in social networks, you have to accept praise and criticism. Obviously, not everyone understands the problem deeply. As a teacher, I will advise my students on how to use and accept it appropriately.

I also have some rules when allowing players to use social media during training and competition. They are not allowed to reveal internal issues, such as who is injured, collisions on the training ground, internal conflicts, and the team's lineup.

I don't mean to hide it from the media, because the audience always wants to know how the team is. The important thing is that the opponent will collect that information to have a countermeasure.

I told the players to be restrained about information, not to reveal team secrets. A group of dozens of people cannot avoid conflicts. Arguments and fights still happen in football, but we need to maintain the image of the team as well as maintain professional requirements. Posting group photos and personal photos is fine.

- Fans know coach Hoang Anh Tuan as a strict teacher. Now, he is more open about the rules, is that strictness still there?

My first and greatest motivation is to protect the players. My career in football is 35 years, almost 3 times longer than my students. I know what is best for the players. In terms of method and timing, I will choose accordingly.

I have rules for the players, with many bullet points. Before each tournament, each training session, the team will issue rules about living and training. In fact, I have never punished a player with financial measures or internal discipline. Sometimes I am angry, sometimes I am gentle, and sometimes I give advice.

The 18-22 age group is bound to make mistakes. Even the generation of Quang Hai, Tan Tai, Van Hau had problems. The current generation of players is the same.

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan talks about using social networks. (Photo: Han Phong)

For example, before participating in the U23 Southeast Asian finals, we played a friendly match with Bahrain. I discussed with the opponent's coach that if it was a draw, we would have a penalty shootout to practice for the possibility that such a situation might happen in the tournament.

There was a player who I considered to be mentally and technically good for his age, and could take a penalty well. But he missed. I understand my players. The problem with that move was not technical. In my anger, I intended to send him away. In the team meeting, I emphasized that the problem was not the missed penalty but the attitude when given the responsibility.

I was going to fine him his pocket money, about $200. For me, attitude is the most important thing. Talent is there, you have to be focused and have the best attitude. But in the end, I just warned him, because I realized that he understood. After that, this player proved that he deserved to play, and he himself successfully scored a penalty in the final match of the U23 Southeast Asian Championship.

This is one of the examples to show that punishment is not necessarily the best method for players to improve. The rules are still set to be followed, but the most important thing is how the players understand the problem and develop themselves.

- Some colleagues in the V-League said that he was brave to return to lead the youth teams, after a previous unsuccessful period.

Without courage, you cannot do this job. For example, a good player without courage will find it difficult to play football. The same goes for coaches, if they cannot handle pressure, it will be difficult to succeed. Look at the successful people in V-League, they can handle pressure very well, for example Chu Dinh Nghiem and Phan Thanh Hung.

Many times they are lonely and lost. Mr. Chu Dinh Nghiem is very good at enduring and has a very good record. I also used to be with Mr. Phan Thanh Hung, a lot of pressure. Cannot overcome without courage.

You have to accept the pressure, accept winning and losing in the game. There will be wins and losses, bad situations can happen. Being scolded is natural. I don't have any reaction but I understand that. Sometimes, I need my assistants and friends to relieve stress, but sometimes I just sit alone to contemplate everything that has happened. I also choose some entertainment to relieve stress.

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has been assigned to lead the three youth teams U17, U20 and Olympic Vietnam in 2023, as part of the strategy to build up the squad for the World Cup. (Photo: VFF)

- You are the first Vietnamese coach to lead a team to the World Cup. At that time, did you think about the World Cup dream for the national team?

In 2015, I thought about the World Cup dream when I led the U19 Vietnam team. To be honest, at first, I didn't dream about it. However, after the U19 Southeast Asian Championship in Laos, I thought about taking the players to the World Cup. Just like a singer singing on a big stage, a coach standing on the World Cup pitch is the pinnacle.

Of course, whether it can be done or not is not something that just one individual wants to do, but requires the support of many parties, VFF leaders, sponsors and society.

- It will take a lot of time and changes for Vietnamese football to participate in the World Cup. You are part of that strategy, with the mission of working with young players. Is that goal, in your opinion, feasible?

I simply say set a direction, then constantly check that direction. We can look at the story of Japanese football. To get to where they are today, how many years did they need and what was their vision during that time, as well as the future? The answer for Vietnamese football is also there.

I believe that time cannot be less than 10 or 20 years. It seems that we are in a hurry. However, like when children take exams, all parents want to get high scores. But, to get high scores, many conditions are needed.

I believe that sooner or later, Vietnamese football will participate in the World Cup. The number of teams participating in the tournament is now 48. Now the story will be which path we choose. Vietnamese football's current success has great support from society. That is very important. With a clear roadmap and the support of the Party and State leaders, Vietnamese football can hope and aim for great goals.

- Thank you for this conversation.

Source: https://vtc.vn/hlv-hoang-anh-tuan-choi-facebook-cung-la-triet-ly-diu-dat-cau-thu-tre-ar830341.html