Teacher Huynh Phuc Thanh (far left) and the Ninh Kieu ward football team won the bronze medal in the primary school category at the 2026 Can Tho City High School Sports Games.
One of the most exciting matches in the elementary school football tournament at the 2026 Can Tho City High School Sports Games was the semi-final clash between Ninh Kieu Ward and Truong Xuan Commune. The two teams engaged in a dramatic back-and-forth battle, ending in a 2-2 draw after regulation time. In the penalty shootout, Ninh Kieu Ward was eliminated, receiving the bronze medal. Nevertheless, the young players from Ninh Kieu Ward left a strong impression with their cohesive play, skillful technique, and tenacious fighting spirit.
Most of the core members of this team come from the Ngo Quyen Primary School Football Club, a school football model that has been developing strongly in Ninh Kieu district in recent years. The club was founded in 2020 by Mr. Huynh Phuc Thanh, the school's physical education teacher, with the goal of creating a healthy playground for students after school hours. From just over a dozen initial members, the club now attracts around 70-80 students who regularly participate in training. This summer, the number of members at the club has increased to approximately 100, including not only students from Ngo Quyen Primary School but also students from other schools.
According to teacher Huynh Phuc Thanh, the club's initial goal was to create an environment where students could exercise, play, and develop life skills. "The most important thing is that the students have a beneficial environment to participate in, where they can play and train under the guidance of teachers. From there, we can identify and nurture those with potential to develop further," Mr. Thanh shared.
Currently, the club holds training sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays every week. The trainees are divided into three age groups to match their skill level and physical condition. The U9 group trains on the futsal court, while the U11 and U13 groups train on the artificial turf at Can Tho University.
Through its operation, the club has gradually become a place for discovering and nurturing talented football players, introducing them to the city's youth training programs. The Can Tho U11 team participating in the national U11 football tournament qualifiers in Dak Lak this early June includes four players who previously trained at the Ngo Quyen Primary School Football Club.
The club's development is also reflected in its increasingly outstanding achievements in student and grassroots tournaments. The club's teams have won the B-League championship of the VJSS Children's Football Tournament in Can Tho City - Yamaha Cup 2025, and the championship title of the Can Tho City Primary School Children's Football Tournament for the ZaiZai Cup in the 2025-2026 school year…
Today's achievements are the result of Mr. Huynh Phuc Thanh's dedication and proactive efforts to improve his professional skills. A graduate of the Physical Education and Sports Pedagogy program at Can Tho University, Mr. Thanh is currently pursuing a master's degree in Physical Education Theory. Recently, he also completed a training program for community football instructors organized by the Vietnam Football Federation and the FFAV Community Football Project in Quang Tri.
The investment in the expertise of the coaches and the systematic operation of the club are positive signs of a sustainable development of school football. There, students' dreams of playing on the pitch are nurtured through regular weekly training sessions.
Text and photos: NGUYEN MINH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nuoi-duong-niem-dam-me-san-co-a206955.html
