Thuy Trang recounts the shock of her brother's death, determined to become a football player in his place

Every month, soccer player Tran Thi Thuy Trang sends money, health supplements, etc. to her parents in the countryside.

Recovering from the shock of losing his brother

After the 32nd SEA Games, player Tran Thi Thuy Trang (born in 1988, from Quang Nam) went home for a 2-day visit. Like the previous times, Thuy Trang visited her brother's grave.

Player Tran Thi Thuy Trang returned home to visit her parents after SEA Games 32.

Standing in front of the grave of the brother she loved the most, Thuy Trang remembered the days she followed him to play soccer.

Because their hometown was poor and had no soccer field, the two brothers and their friends played soccer in the fields and cement yards. Although they were smaller than the boys, Trang was not afraid to fight for the ball or collide with her brother because she was playing with him.

From playing for fun, Trang joined the girls' soccer team of her class and school. In high school, she played for the girls' soccer team of the province, participated in the National Phu Dong Sports Festival and won a bronze medal.

Before university, Trang was guided by her brother to take the entrance exam to Ho Chi Minh City University of Sports and Physical Education. Her brother always told his sister to fulfill his sports dream.

However, during the days of university entrance exams, Trang had to endure a huge shock.

“At midnight, people informed the family that he had an accident. I was devastated when I heard the news, I could only pray but the miracle did not appear,” Thuy Trang was emotional.

At that time, Trang was devastated and did not want to take the university entrance exam anymore. Unable to face the truth of losing her brother, Trang went to stay with a friend.

Player Thuy Trang said: "During that time, I often went to the riverbank to cry and wanted to follow him.

However, after thinking it through, I decided to continue studying for the exam, following the sports path that my brother wanted. That was also my way of fulfilling his passion."

On the eve of the university entrance exam, Trang packed her bags and moved to Ho Chi Minh City alone. From the countryside to the city, Trang was lucky to have a sister from the same hometown let her stay temporarily. This person also drove Trang to the exam, took care of her every meal and sleep…

To enter Ho Chi Minh City University of Sports, in addition to Math and Biology, candidates must take an aptitude test.

Having never learned professional soccer techniques, Trang naturally showed off her talent for dribbling and running at speed... just like when she played soccer in her hometown.

So, when she received the news that she passed the football major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Sports, Trang was both happy and surprised.

Basic salary over 5 million VND

In her first year of university, Thuy Trang received financial support from her family . However, in the following years, she tried to win scholarships and worked part-time to pay for her tuition and living expenses.

With her knowledge and practical experience on the field, the female player accepts to referee friendly and amateur matches. Trang is usually paid from 120,000 to 200,000 VND for each match.

After more than 10 years of playing football, Thuy Trang has won many individual and team titles.

Besides being a referee, Thuy Trang also does many other jobs, including working as a maid, washing dishes for hire...

“I do anything that makes honest money, regardless of whether others look down on me or laugh at me…”, Thuy Trang confided.

In 2009, Trang received the title of best player of the Ho Chi Minh City Student Futsal Tournament. From here, Thuy Trang was invited by the teachers at the District 1 Sports Center to join the Ho Chi Minh City Club.

However, she refused to focus on her final year of school. It was not until she graduated from university in 2010 that she decided to join the Ho Chi Minh City Club.

Also in 2010, Trang was selected for the Ho Chi Minh City futsal team to compete in the national futsal tournament. This season, the female player from Quang Nam and the Ho Chi Minh City team won a bronze medal.

At the end of 2010, when she had just joined the Vietnam futsal team, Trang immediately suffered a broken collarbone and had to rest for nearly 3 months.

During the break, even though her leg had not fully healed, she still practiced enthusiastically. This caused damage to the old surgical wound, requiring another surgery.

After the injury, Trang was also afraid of collisions. However, when competing, the attraction of the round ball made her keep rushing forward.

Attending SEA Games 26 and 27 twice, Thuy Trang contributed to changing the medal color from silver to gold for the Vietnamese futsal team.

In 2014, Thuy Trang was called up to the Vietnam women's football team. Under the guidance of coach Mai Duc Chung, the Vietnam women's football team entered the semi-finals of the 17th Asian Games for the first time.

Before this miracle, the Vietnamese women's football team received a big bonus. Recalling that milestone, Thuy Trang shared: "That was the first time my teammates and I received a level A bonus, up to 90 million VND."

After keeping a portion for herself, Thuy Trang brought the bonus home to give to her parents and gifts to her siblings and nieces and nephews.

Currently, Trang's basic salary at the club is more than 5 million VND/month. During the months when she is called up to the national team, her salary will be higher and there will be additional bonuses.

Every month, Thuy Trang regularly sends money, supplements, etc. back home to her parents. Trang’s father suffered a stroke and her mother is nearly 80 years old and is no longer able to work.