Nam Mi: 'My teammates support me a lot'
"I'm getting used to the Vietnamese women's team. My teammates and coach have helped me a lot. I'm starting to adapt quickly. Of course, I still have a lot to learn," Vietnamese-American midfielder Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi shared before the afternoon practice session of June 2 of the Vietnamese women's team. "My teammates support me in my daily activities. During practice, the coach reminds me to pass faster and stronger."
Notably, Nam Mi knows English, French and Vietnamese, but chose to answer the interview in Vietnamese. Nam Mi speaks Vietnamese relatively fluently, thanks to which the 22-year-old player can communicate well with her teammates. She can even talk to her assistant Cedric Roger (French), because she studied French in Canada.
Overseas Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi
PHOTO: VUONG ANH
Because both Nam Mi's parents are Vietnamese, Nam Mi completed the procedure for Vietnamese citizenship while in Canada. She also learned Vietnamese from a young age.
"I talk a lot with my teammates. They also speak English when I don't understand the Vietnamese content. Everyone supports me a lot. I have become close to many teammates since I joined the HCMC women's team, such as Huynh Nhu, Thu Thao or Tuyet Ngan. Everyone is friendly," Nam Mi affirmed.
Nam Mi is the first overseas Vietnamese player in history to wear the Vietnamese women's national team jersey. Nam Mi had a trial with the Vietnamese women's team after an offer from the Ho Chi Minh City women's club in May. After 3 days of observing Nam Mi practicing and integrating with the team, coach Mai Duc Chung decided to officially give the 2003-born player a place in the national team in this training session.
"The weather in Vietnam is much hotter than Canada. It's hot in Canada too, but in Vietnam, the weather is more humid. Canadian soccer is also different from Vietnam. In Canada, we need to be strong, but here, the players are fast and skillful," Nam Mi added. "Even though it's hot, I have to adapt. The girls on the team also feel the heat. No one can help me with this."
'I love playing football in Vietnam'
Nam Mi was born in 2003 in Ottawa (Canada), 1.67 m tall. She is a student at the University of Saskatchewan and plays for this school team as a defender and defensive midfielder. In 2024, Nam Mi was honored in the typical team of the Western Canadian school tournament.
Nam Mi is adapting to the Vietnam women's team
PHOTO: VUONG ANH
"I have 1 year left in college in Canada. I really like playing soccer in Vietnam, but I have to go back to Canada to study in August. After about 1 to 1.5 years, I can return to Vietnam. After finishing college, I can do anything. I don't know exactly what the future holds, but I really like going back to Vietnam," Nam Mi shared.
"My family has many members in Vietnam. On holidays, I still go back to visit my grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. I still miss my parents, brothers at home, and even my cat. However, it's okay, I still call them often. My family here also helps me a lot."
In the semi-final of the Asian Cup 1, Nam Mi was not selected to start. The HCMC women's team lost 0-2 to Wuhan Jiangda, finishing third in Asia. In the Vietnam national team, Nam Mi will have to work hard to earn a position.
"Today, I will take ice baths if I train hard and stretch a lot, then focus on relaxing. I feel everything is fine, luckily I have few injuries," Nam Mi concluded.
The Vietnamese women's team will train at the Vietnam Youth Training Center until the morning of June 7. That evening, the team will leave for Japan to train in preparation for the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Mai Duc Chung and his team are in the same group as UAE, Maldives and Guam Island.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tien-ve-viet-kieu-canada-nam-mi-noi-soi-tieng-viet-toi-phai-hoc-hoi-nhieu-185250603162851576.htm
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