Quang Nam Club at risk of dissolution: Mr. Duc's 'darling' writes a heartfelt letter!

Mr. Duc's darling, Tran Huu Dong Trieu, shared a very thoughtful letter on the day his hometown team, also his old team Quang Nam, was at risk of dissolution.

Mr. Duc on the days he brought a chair out to watch "HAGL JMG kids" practice

Photo: Minh Tran

Bau Duc's darling: Not everyone becomes a professional player

Tran Huu Dong Trieu was once a star of the HAGL JMG academy, one of the three darlings that Mr. Duc sent to train at the giant Arsenal, a native of Quang Nam, and was promoted to the V-League with his hometown team Quang Nam Club.

The former midfielder of U.23 Vietnam has now retired and is pursuing a coaching career in the educational environment at FPT Polytechnic College. On the afternoon of July 23, he wrote a very thoughtful letter about how players plan their future when pursuing a football career.

Thanh Nien would like to quote the article verbatim: "I used to play professionally, played for Quang Nam and a few words about the future of the players. Hearing the news that the team was disbanding, I was sad. Very sad. Not only because the name Quang Nam is no longer on the football map, but because I think of the players, most of whom are facing an uncertain future.

I’m not talking about all of them, just most of them. I’m writing these few lines to share with the young players who are still living their lives with the ball. Not everyone becomes a professional player.

Dong Trieu and Quang Nam Club won the first division championship, returning to V-League 2023 - 2024

Photo: FBNV

I have seen many children, their eyes shining when they enter the academy. Everyone thinks they will play in the V-League, be called by the audience, have money, have fame. But the reality is much harsher. Each training course, there are dozens, hundreds of children.

But after graduating, those who get signed professional contracts can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Those who stay longer are even rarer. Top-level football is a tough game. Talent is not enough. You also need health, will, and a little luck. There is nothing "automatic" in this profession.

Players need to take their education seriously.

Dong Trieu then mentioned that many players do not have a plan B, with gratitude to Mr. Duc: "There are players who have only known how to play football since they were young, without studying anything else, nor preparing for tomorrow. When they get injured, or the team disbands, or simply no one signs a contract anymore... they don't know what to do to survive.

Dong Trieu in the exchange of the national 7-a-side football championship for FPT Polytechnic students

Photo: FBNV

A football career is short. Fifteen years is good. But life is long. You have a wife, children, and the burden of making a living. If you don't prepare anything in advance, when you stop playing, everything can easily fall apart.

I am grateful to HAGL and Uncle Ba Duc!

If it weren't for my years at the academy and Uncle Ba's care, I would have been like many other guys, only knowing how to play football, with nothing but my legs. I was given the opportunity to go to university and graduate properly.

Thanks to that, I now work at FPT Polytechnic College. Even though I can no longer play at the top level, I can still live well and do something useful. I am currently trying to help young players continue their studies. Many of them have studied at FPT Polytechnic College, where I am working. Seeing them studying, I am very confident.

Mr. Duc always wants his players to study well both football and culture.

Photo: Document

Dear young players! I understand, football is a passion. I used to be like that too. But don't let it be everything. Because if one day passion can't support you, you have to have something else to live on. Think about plan B soon.

Study more, work more, open another door. Who knows, maybe tomorrow, that door will be the support for your life. I have gone through days of confusion and bewilderment. I don't want anyone else to have to go that way. If possible, start today!"

It is known that at the end of 2025, Dong Trieu and many HAGL players such as Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Van Truong, Xuan Truong, Van Son... held a graduation ceremony on the campus of Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports (UPES), making Mr. Duc very happy.

Combined with completing the C - AFC coaching certificate, he became a teacher in the "uniform" of FPT Polytechnic College, helping many young players who were "disillusioned" with V-League to both study culture and play football in a student football environment.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-quang-nam-nguy-co-giai-the-cuc-cung-bau-duc-viet-tam-thu-day-tam-trang-185250723175903047.htm