'I woke up after the mistake of youth'

Almost expelled from the youth team for truancy and mischief, striker Pham Tuan Hai has risen to become a mainstay in the club, national team and a candidate for the 2023 Golden Ball.

- When mentioning Ha Nam , people immediately think of women's football, but men's football doesn't even have a youth team. So, what path brought Tuan Hai to top football?

- When I was young, I loved playing soccer and often played with older boys. At that time, I didn't know what training centers were. Everything happened quite by chance.

In 2008, while having a late-night meal in Hanoi, my uncle met the owner of the restaurant who used to work for the youth team of Ha Tay (now Hanoi), and was then introduced to the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center (now Gia Lam District). He called to ask if I wanted to practice soccer, I quickly agreed but my parents objected. My family wanted me to pursue my studies. At that time, I had been an excellent student for four consecutive years. No one in my family was into sports.

After that, I asked to go to Hanoi , pretending to go out but actually went with my uncle to Gia Lam "factory" to show people my legs. At that time, it was not the recruitment period, but a few days later they announced that they would accept me. When my parents came to pick me up, everything was done. Being a quiet person, my parents did not know what to do at that time so they agreed.

- How did Tuan Hai's journey with football begin?

- I practiced at the center during the week, and went back to my hometown on the weekends. Every week my mother picked me up and dropped me off. At that time, there was no direct bus, so we took a bus from Phu Ly to Giap Bat bus station, then another motorbike taxi to Gia Lam.

At first, the 1998 team had only me. Because the 1997 team of Nguyen Quang Hai was playing in the U11 tournament, I had to practice with the 1995 team, which had Pham Duc Huy. I was small so the guys liked me but I couldn’t practice right away. The first day, the coach told me to juggle the ball but I couldn’t do two because I used to play by instinct and didn’t care about juggling. I got used to it quickly after practicing, and I did the 12-touch juggle well.

- What impressions did the process of growing up in Gia Lam "furnace" leave on Tuan Hai?

- Hunger and suffering. The whole team of about 25 people lived in a room of about 100 square meters. It was hot in the summer because there was no air conditioning, and cold in the winter because it was not windproof. There was not much to eat, sometimes there was not enough rice, so we were often hungry. The children who were still in the age of eating and growing up had to go out to buy more food. Keeping a debt book was a common thing. But the children's thinking did not see it as suffering, they were only passionate about playing football and did not think much like when they grew up. I think that suffering like that also teaches many things.

Another impression is the terrible selection. We trained together until we were 16 years old, then went through a selection of the best players from Gia Lam and T&T Center to form a team. Those who were not selected finished 12th grade with a high school diploma and retired. My class of 1998 now has only three people playing professionally, the rest have other jobs.

- Looking back now, according to Tuan Hai, what was the turning point that helped your career advance as it is today?

The teachers avoided me, my teammates also avoided me. I was lonely because no one accepted me, at that time I just wanted to stay and play football. Finally, teacher Nguyen Trong Hong, the head of the football department of the Center, stood up to guarantee, using his honor to ask for me to stay. After that time, I was scared and became obedient, no longer undisciplined.

But that’s not all. The second turning point really changed my entire thinking about my career. It was in 2018, when my teammates and I celebrated the gold medal at the National Sports Festival in Hanoi. On the way back, although I didn’t drink so that I could go to Hue with my teammates to play in the U21 National Championship the next day, I still had a motorbike accident.

In Hue, I was taken for an X-ray. The doctor said that if I didn’t have surgery, I wouldn’t be able to play football again. Hearing this, I was scared and shivered because I had never had such a serious injury. Luckily, when I was examined at Viet Duc Hospital, the doctor said that I only needed a cast. In the meantime, I continued to exercise to prevent muscle atrophy. The cast was removed after 28 days.

Tuan Hai (purple shirt) dribbles the ball during the match between Hanoi FC and Da Nang, which ended 1-1 in V-League 2023. Photo: *Lam Thoa*

- How did that injury help Tuan Hai look back at himself?

- I feel lucky that I didn't have to have surgery, lucky that it helped me wake up. When injured, the most important thing is the spirit. The more comfortable you are and think positively, the faster you recover. On the contrary, if you are bored, it will take longer. I also wondered if I was serious about my career. No one showed me how to recover, so I started to learn about training and nutrition. Now everything has become a habit.

I have a body type that is prone to gaining weight, so when I am injured and do not follow a diet, I gain up to 80 kg. Now I do not drink anymore, only on special occasions like tournament finals. I also quit soft drinks, although I used to be addicted. It has been 5 years since I changed, now I feel much healthier and compete more freely.

- Temptations always appear around football players, how has Tuan Hai maintained discipline over the past 5 years?

- The important thing is whether you want to or not, whether you have the courage to overcome it or not, because temptations are everywhere. Now I just can't control my sleep completely because I still stay up late sometimes. I don't care what people think about me, the important thing is that I practice myself, and I supplement my weaknesses.

I also believe that every incident will have a lesson. I think in the direction of being ready to face and find a way to solve every problem, instead of being immersed in sadness. I often go to practice more to forget everything. My point of view is that today is the end and tomorrow is a new day, so I never rest on my laurels or wallow in defeat.

- Changing your awareness has helped Hai achieve certain successes in the past three years. What about the process of changing your competition skills?

- My original position was central midfielder, playing with physical strength and not good technique. In the past, I played instinctively but when I grew up, I had to respond and adapt to tactics.

At the end of 2015, I played for Hanoi B in the Third Division. Coach Vu Hong Viet promoted me to play as an attacking midfielder. After that, Coach Van Sy Hung saw my potential and encouraged me to play closer to the penalty area. At the end of the tournament, I scored six goals, the most on the team. I always wanted to play closer to the penalty area, but the position was too far away; being a striker gave me more initiative.

- What about the process of accumulating experience in lower club leagues?

- I played at all levels, for Hanoi B in the Third Division, Second Division, then in the First Division, then "transferred" to Ha Tinh Club and it only took one season to get to the V-League. That generation had a very good foundation, especially very strong physique, so now they can still play for other teams. Coach Pham Minh Duc and I have been together for a long time so we understand each other. In the past, I was grumpy and easily irritated if I or my teammates did not do well. Now, I am more mature thanks to being scolded by him a lot.

That team played together since they were young and passed all levels. I regret not playing together longer because we reached a level where we understood each other and knew how to play without talking. So, in 2021, I actually have not decided to return to Hanoi FC.

- Why does Tuan Hai think like that?

- I had the opportunity to play for Hanoi FC since 2018. After Hanoi B was promoted to the First Division, some players were promoted to the first team and coach Chu Dinh Nghiem wanted to keep me. I asked to stay at Hanoi B to play in the First Division because the first team at that time was full of stars, so there was no competition.

I wanted to stay in Ha Tinh until I was 25 because I thought I would be mature enough to play for Ha Noi FC. I still thought they had too many good players so I was worried that there would be few opportunities to play, hindering their development. However, Ha Tinh did not invest much and kept me, so I moved to Ha Noi from the 2022 season.

- In fact, everything went very smoothly for Pham Tuan Hai when it only took him one year to win all the club-level titles?

- Hanoi FC's playing style is similar to what I learned from the youth team. I got used to playing with the team and was lucky to win all the titles: V-League, National Cup, National Super Cup. My dream of playing alongside the seniors I admired also came true.

Every year, the Hanoi youth team gets to train with the first team once, so that the national team can select players. At that time, we felt scared when we saw the older players. When a meal was served for six people, 10 young players sat at one table, not daring to sit with the older players. Those who dared to sit just buried their heads in their food and didn't look up. The young players enjoyed going to the field to train with the older players, feeling like they could develop more.

- The national team level is different when Tuan Hai missed the most successful period of Vietnamese football. What do you think about that period?

- In 2016, I won the national U19 championship and won the Golden Boot, but was eliminated from the national team for the U19 Asian finals. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan did not give a reason, but I thought I was not good enough. In addition, my playing style was rough, so if I did not work for a long time, many coaches would not like it. After being eliminated, I continued to win the national U21 championship and won the Golden Boot. A year later, I was again not named in the national team for the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup. I felt sad, but I also thought that I was not good enough, so I had to try harder.

It also took me a long time to get into the national team. In 2021, the team played the second qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in the UAE during the Covid-19 pandemic, so those who were in the plan were vaccinated. Ha Tinh had a few players but not me. I was scolded by Uncle Duc, "You watch how you play and punch, why are others getting in while you stay home?" In September 2021, I suddenly received a call from the Vietnam Football Federation to join the national team for the third qualifying round, and then made my debut as a substitute when we lost 1-3 to Oman.

The most regrettable thing is that the AFF Cup 2020 will be held in Singapore. My team and I will train in Vung Tau. One night after dinner, I was walking with Luong Xuan Truong when Coach Park Hang-seo called me to his room for a private talk. He said I need to improve more so I should go home and practice harder. I was a bit sad because I was eliminated.

- After that tournament, Tuan Hai had a stable position in the team. How do you feel?

- On the field, I am extremely strong and passionate, but off the field, I am quiet and gentle. Therefore, people are surprised when they first meet me. I feel that I still have many shortcomings, such as not playing consistently from the beginning to the end of the match. Wherever I am, I never think that I am sure of a starting position, but I always try to show everything I have to get the coach's recognition. The coach is the one who decides and I always listen to the coach no matter what position I play.

- The difference between you and other Vietnamese strikers is your ability to press the opponent's defense. That seems to be a huge advantage?

- Football today requires all positions to defend as a unit. Now there is no longer the type of player standing still when attacking or defending and when losing the ball, the striker must defend first. I think in this matter, attitude will decide. Sometimes you just need to try to run a little, chase the ball a little to help your teammates. Like the match when Hanoi FC lost 1-2 away to Wuhan Three Towns, we lost a man early so the whole first half was just running without the ball. The important thing is the spirit of not giving up.

- Vietnamese football emphasizes the collective and the common good, but the individual makes the difference. What is Tuan Hai's opinion?

- It depends on each person's personality. My ego is ready to sacrifice and burn myself out on the field. I'm shy about appearing in front of the press and crowds because I don't want people to pay much attention and want to work quietly.

- After a very successful period with coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam has transitioned to coach Philippe Troussier. Do you feel any doubts about the team's current playing style and personnel arrangement?

- At this stage, all players need to look back at themselves. I think Coach Troussier wants to motivate and develop the players more. When there is competition, each individual can reach a new level, both old and new players. Only then can Vietnamese football develop.

- How about team unity?

- Unity is the greatest strength of the team. My belief is that from the seniors to the juniors, everyone is very united, there is no gap between this person is a star, that person is a rookie. Personally, I really like living in a united group because it creates a lot of strength to do extraordinary things.

- What are Tuan Hai's near and far goals?

- In the immediate future, I want to be in the squad for the 2023 Asian Cup. In the future, I want to play until I'm 40 years old.

One of my plans for personal development is to compete abroad. When I came to Hanoi, I set a goal and worked hard for the past three years. I just needed a chance to go and wanted to go to Japan. I went abroad not to experience but determined to fight to compete on the field for as long as possible. I had to break through so that I would look back and have no regrets.

Hieu Luong

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