Former football player Ho Van Loi passed away

(NLDO) - The news of former midfielder Ho Van Loi's passing at the age of 55 shocked and saddened many generations of Vietnamese football lovers.

Ho Van Loi passed away quietly after a serious illness in the early morning of November 12, but the mark he left in the hearts of his teammates, experts and football fans in Saigon in particular, and Vietnamese football in general, is not small.

Born in 1970 in Hue , Ho Van Loi came to football in a way that few people expected. He was eliminated from the talent selection round just because of his short stature.

However, his football career has proven the opposite: Talent, will and heart for playing football are more important than height. For more than a decade, Ho Van Loi was the soul of the midfield of Saigon Port - the city's iconic football team.

Ho Van Loi (kneeling, 14) at the coronation ceremony of Saigon Port

Not tall, not loud, but every time he touches the ball, the audience at Thong Nhat Stadium can feel his mischievousness, intelligence and talent. He runs little, but thinks quickly. He doesn't make many collisions, but knows how to make the ball obey.

The small player won the V-League 2001-2002 Golden Boot award – a rare thing for a domestic player in a time when the tournament was still bustling with foreign players and muscular strength.

Ho Van Loi

In particular, Loi has devoted his entire career to Saigon Port – which has created a beautiful image: a loyal player, living a decent life, loving football in the simplest and most sincere way. He did not have the chance to wear the national team jersey in major tournaments, but in the hearts of Saigon fans, he is always a symbol.

Teammates and friends tried to support Ho Van Loi during his illness.

In the last years of his life, he was tormented by illness, forcing him to fight in silence. His friends and comrades – those who had once gone through life and death with him – helped and encouraged him to overcome. But in the end, he could no longer hold on to that stormy life.

Today, when Ho Van Loi leaves the earthly football field, people remember him not only as a talented player, but also as a simple, gentle, and humane man. A part of Saigon football memories – the time of splendor, chivalry, and humanity – also ends with him.

Farewell Ho Van Loi – the artist of Saigon Port’s midfield. The ball has stopped rolling, but his footprints will remain forever in the memories of Vietnamese football lovers.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cuu-tuyen-thu-bong-da-ho-van-loi-qua-doi-196251112070550763.htm