Women who bring Vietnam to the world: Vietnamese female players are capable of playing in Europe!

In August 2022, Huynh Nhu officially joined the Portuguese club Lank and scored many goals for the home team. Huynh Nhu shared that she wanted to prove to everyone that Vietnamese female players are capable of playing football in Europe.

Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter had an interview with Huynh Nhu on the occasion of her return to Vietnam.

PV: Who is the woman who has influenced Huynh Nhu in both her career and personal life?

Player Huynh Nhu: Mom is the person who influenced Nhu the most. People say that kind parents bring blessings to their children. Mom is the one who always loved and protected Nhu from the day she went to play football in Tra Vinh until she took Nhu to Ho Chi Minh City to practice.

Mom took me there and picked me up again. Mom protected and nurtured Nhu's dreams so that Nhu could be who she is today. There are truly no words that can describe all the great things that Mom has done for Nhu. Thank you so much, Mom!

Huynh Nhu visited her family during her return to Vietnam to receive the Vietnam Golden Ball award at the end of February 2023.

PV: Has anyone ever told you that football is a sport for men? As a female player, what do you think about this prejudice?

Player Huynh Nhu: Social prejudice comes from the past ideology of “preferring men and despising women”. At that time, women had little role in society. But life has changed, there are more and more leaders and senior managers who are women.

The same thing happened with soccer. There are more women players playing soccer. The national women's soccer team has also brought many glorious and proud achievements to the country.

As known, FIFA has decided to require all professional football clubs to have women's teams from 2025/2026. The world is changing to develop. As expected, Vietnam will also have changes in the future.

PV: As a female player, does Huynh Nhu have any disadvantages or advantages compared to male players?

Player Huynh Nhu: Women's football, in general, receives less attention than men's football. There are many matches where the stands are empty, which makes Nhu sad. This is a common situation all over the world, not just in Vietnam.

But on the other hand, women's football receives less attention than men's football, which means there is less media pressure on female players. Usually, women's football only receives attention when they have international achievements.

PV: Is the decision to step out into the world at an old age a risky one because the career of football players is usually not long?

Player Huynh Nhu: Playing football in Europe is every player's dream. Nhu is no exception. Experiencing and challenging yourself in the world's leading professional football environment is a great opportunity to learn and improve your self-awareness.

In 2020, when all the procedures were completed but the transfer was postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic, Nhu was very disappointed. Fortunately, Lank Club returned to negotiate last summer. This time the deal was successful.

Nhu also wants to prove to everyone that Vietnamese female players are capable of playing in Europe. Up to this point in the season, Nhu has been given the opportunity and shown her ability. The football environment in Portugal is very professional and competitive, Nhu has learned a lot during this time.

PV:   How is women's football abroad different from women's football domestically?

Player Huynh Nhu: In terms of expertise, women's football abroad (specifically in Europe) is played at a higher intensity, requiring more physical strength. The coaches also have very high and strict requirements regarding tactics.

In Europe, they have a professional league system with many divisions. As I think, this is an important condition for football to develop.

In the past 5 years, European countries have invested heavily in women's football. Therefore, the level of competition in women's football will increase significantly.

More and more fans are coming to the stadium to watch and cheer for women's football. As if the perception in society is gradually changing.

PV: Where are Vietnamese women's football and Vietnamese women's players standing? What are our strengths and weaknesses?

Player Huynh Nhu: The Vietnamese women's national team is currently ranked 34th in the world and 6th in Asia. This is a proud achievement for tireless efforts.

In terms of advantages, Vietnamese female players are agile and have technique; the disadvantages are strength and endurance. For Nhu, her small body shape also makes it a bit difficult to compete. But instead, her ability to handle skillfully as well as good technique helps Nhu confidently express herself. Because her time here is not much, Nhu wants to gain more experience so that when she returns, she can help Vietnamese women's football.

PV: What image of Vietnam does Huynh Nhu want to bring to the world?

Player Huynh Nhu: Nhu believes that every Vietnamese citizen living, studying or working abroad wants to bring the best of their homeland to international friends.

For Nhu, in addition to wanting to bring Vietnamese women's football to the world, Nhu also wants more international friends to know more about Vietnam. This will be an opportunity to open up for women's football as well as Vietnamese tourism.

As planned, through football to promote the image of Vietnam - a beautiful country with friendly people, an attractive destination for tourism in the Asia region. Hope everyone will follow, welcome and support.

Nhu also told her teammates at Lank Club a lot about Vietnam. What could be better than playing friendly matches with women's clubs and the Vietnam Women's Football Team in our homeland?

• Production organization: Viet Anh
• Performed by: Thi Uyen
• Photo: Lank FC, character provided

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