Putting aside the pressure, Sacombank players put on their shoes and went out onto the field.

sacombank - Ảnh 1. — Sacombank players in a tournament organized by Becamex Group - Photo: NVCC

During the day, Sacombank players are neat bank employees behind the counter, “fighting” with numbers and pressure. When the afternoon comes, they put everything aside to put on their sports jerseys, living their passion for football.

When the pressure doesn't come from performance

Entering this year’s tournament, Sacombank carries the status of one of the strongest candidates. The memory of the national runner-up position in 2024 is still there, as a reminder of their strength and mettle.

However, when asked about the pressure, Mr. Nguyen Chi Bao - the head of the Sacombank football team smiled gently. "Actually, the team has no pressure at all. Our spirit is mainly to exchange and learn. When we enter the field, we play with all our heart, for passion, for the flag and the colors of the shirt, not focusing on achievements," Mr. Bao shared.

The phrase “no pressure” is not an empty modesty. It comes from the confidence of a team that has stuck together for many years. Unlike many union teams that have to struggle to recruit players each season, Sacombank’s squad is a stable unit.

"These guys have been playing together for ages," said Mr. Bao. They understand each other in every step, every pass. That understanding is their most formidable weapon.

That stability is also tempered through a tight competition schedule. Right before this tournament, they are still fighting on two other fronts. That is the internal tournament of the bank and a big grassroots tournament of the Becamex group.

In the morning they play semi-finals of this tournament, in the afternoon they can play finals of another tournament. For us, the football field is not a walk in the park, it is an indispensable part of life.

Class is forged after work hours

To have such a strong team, the Sacombank "warriors" had to make many sacrifices. Their practice schedule is three sessions a week, two evenings after a stressful day of work and one weekend morning that should be for family.

However, they come to the training ground not with their best bodies, but with the little energy left after 8 hours of brainstorming with numbers.

It was passion that turned fatigue into motivation. And on the field, they were real stars. In that lineup, there were prominent names such as Pham Thanh Dat, who had professional playing experience. Or Huynh Long Man, another talented player.

sacombank - Ảnh 2. — This Sacombank squad is still the core of the runner-up Sacombank Binh Duong in 2024 - Photo: QUANG THINH

But Sacombank's strength does not lie in any individual, but in the collective spirit fostered by the corporate culture itself.

Mr. Bao proudly shared about his unit's sports movement: "The sports spirit of banks is very strong. For example, Sacombank just organized an internal tournament in the Southeast region and gathered more than 2,000 athletes."

This huge number shows that sports is not a sideline activity, but has become the "breath" and soul of the business. The management not only provides financial support, but also considers this an investment in the most valuable asset in people.

"This tournament is truly a very meaningful playground. It brings a message that our banking industry does not only trade in a special type of goods, but we also need to have mass activities to help our brothers have a comfortable spirit. From there, they will work better," Mr. Bao confided.

Sacombank's journey in this tournament is perhaps not a story about overcoming difficulties to make a living, but a story about balancing work pressure and passion for the highest level.

They came here, carrying the pride of a big brand, and above all, to prove that even the most seemingly dry bank employees can play a football full of emotion and dedication.

In the Southern qualifying round, Sacombank fell into group B with strong opponents such as Becamex Group, Vietnam Electricity Trade Union and Gia Lai Trade Union.

The 2025 Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament is jointly organized by Tuoi Tre Newspaper, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, and the Vietnam Football Federation. This is the third consecutive year the tournament has taken place.

The 2025 tournament is sponsored by Truong Hai Group Joint Stock Company (THACO), Dong Luc Sports Group, HTP Pharmaceutical Investment Joint Stock Company, Hoa Sen Group Joint Stock Company, Sunshine Group, Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO), Faslink Fashion Connection Joint Stock Company, 108 Central Military Hospital, 175 Military Hospital and a number of enterprises.

The Northern qualifying round took place from October 3 to 5 at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, determining 6 names to win tickets to the national final round, including the champion, the People's Public Security Trade Union.

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THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gac-lai-ap-luc-cau-thu-sacombank-xo-giay-ra-san-20251008154830974.htm