President Ho Chi Minh's stories with football

During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh paid great attention to physical training and sports . He once, on behalf of the Provisional Coalition Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, issued Decree No. 14 establishing the Ministry of Youth and the Central Sports Department on January 30, 1946. On March 27 of the same year, he wrote a call for all people to exercise, published in the newspaper Cuu Quoc, saying: "I hope that all of our people will try to exercise" because "to preserve democracy, build the country, and create a new life, everything requires good health to be successful".

In sports, President Ho Chi Minh also attached great importance to football. It was Uncle Ho who created the historic Vietnam - France football match in 1946. Going back in time 79 years ago, on October 20, 1946, after a 40-day journey at sea, the warship Dumont d' Urville carrying President Ho Chi Minh and the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to negotiate in France, docked at Ben Ngu port, Hai Phong, welcomed by tens of thousands of compatriots from the port city.

According to writer Dang Vuong Hung, in an article published in the TT&VH newspaper in 2006, "Uncle Ho had a brief talk with the cadres and people of Hai Phong right at Pho Ga football field". At the end of the talk, Uncle "invited the people to come here tomorrow, we will organize a football match with the sailors of the French warship Dumont D'Urville to show the goodwill of the Vietnamese people".

The French warship Dumont D'Urville once brought President Ho Chi Minh and the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam back to the country after negotiations in France.

Hai Phong Inter-Army football team in 1946, photo by writer Dang Vuong Hung provided by the late famous player Nguyen Lan.

At that time, Hai Phong was one of the most developed football localities, and famous player Nguyen Lan was appointed as the captain with the task of gathering his teammates to form the Hai Phong Football Team to take the field on October 21.

Despite not having time to practice and being short, the port city team with their skillful techniques caused a lot of trouble for the Dumont d' Urville sailors. We led 1-0 after the first half, however, with the spirit of communication, keeping the peace and avoiding unnecessary tension, famous player Nguyen Lan and his teammates made the match end with a score of 1-1.

After the Dien Bien Phu victory, our army and people took over the capital Hanoi, SEPTO football stadium was rebuilt and renamed Hang Day stadium. On August 24, 1958, Hang Day stadium was officially inaugurated. President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong also attended the inauguration ceremony, watched the parade of 3,000 athletes, the gymnastic performances of more than 1,000 students, students, and athletes, then watched the football match between Phnom Penh (Cambodia) team and Hai Phong team.

President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong attended the opening match of Hang Day Stadium between Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Hai Phong teams. (Photo: Vien Hong Quang, color reconstruction from VNA archive photo).

In a rare photo of this event (carefully restored in color by young man Vien Hong Quang), we can see Uncle Ho and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong sitting on wooden chairs in the cement stands, mingling with the people watching the football match.

This was not the first time President Ho Chi Minh came to watch a football match in the capital Hanoi. Uncle Ho once watched the match between the General Post Office and Hanoi Port workers at Cot Co Stadium (old Margin Stadium) on May 1, 1957. Also at this stadium, on May 26, 1957, Uncle Ho watched the competition between the Cambodian team and the Hanoi team.

According to former player and coach Tran Duy Long, "during those difficult years, the Party and the State still attached great importance to the development of physical education and sports, especially football". At that time, we had a permanent National Team, gathering the best players, training at the national training school (Nhon) and being coached by leading experts of Soviet football. When not training, the team often played friendly matches with the Army Club (ie The Cong) in Nhon or Cot Co stadium, serving soldiers, compatriots or brothers from the South who had gathered in the North.

In those matches, besides the determination to play their best and contribute the most beautiful passes, the players always put sportsmanship above all else. This comes from Uncle Ho's teachings.

In 1960, at the opening ceremony of the National Sports Congress, President Ho Chi Minh was invited by the Organizing Committee to kick the honorary ball. He surprised everyone by kicking the ball towards the B stand, where the referees and sports officials were. Afterwards, he smiled and explained: "I hope the referees and sports officials will be impartial in their work."

Uncle Ho was present at the Cot Co stadium to watch the match between the Cambodian team and the Hanoi team on May 26, 1957. (Photo: VNA)

Uncle Ho watched the match between the General Post Office and Hanoi Port workers at Cot Co Stadium on May 1, 1957. (Photo: VNA)

Uncle Ho and The Cong Football Team at the Friendship Football Tournament of Socialist Countries' Armies (SKDA) in 1960. (Photo: Archive)

Thanh Hai

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nhung-cau-chuyen-voi-bong-da-cua-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh-post1743613.tpo