NTO - General Nguyen Chi Thanh

During more than 30 years of revolutionary activities, assigned by the Party and the Army with many important tasks, in many important positions, General Nguyen Chi Thanh was always present in the most difficult and fierce places, constantly contributing and sacrificing his whole life for the Party's ideals and revolutionary cause. The General's life of revolutionary activities, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people, has left for future generations an example of a loyal and exemplary communist soldier.

For generations of military sports coaches and athletes, the General is also the eldest brother, the one who laid the foundation for physical education and sports in the Army.

On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of General Nguyen Chi Thanh's birth (January 1, 1914 - January 1, 2024), many research works and new publications about the General's life and career have been developed and officially published by authors, his family and many major publishers, notably the book "Stories about General Nguyen Chi Thanh" (Editor-in-Chief: Late Senior Lieutenant General, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Chi Vinh - son of General Nguyen Chi Thanh) compiled and published by the People's Army Publishing House in collaboration with the General's family.

The seventh part of the book, titled "The General of Literature and Arts", recounts that in his youth, General Nguyen Chi Thanh was very passionate about folk songs and traditional folk songs of his homeland. When he became the leader of Party, political and ideological work in the Army, the General understood very well the role of culture - literature - arts - sports for the army.

Former The Cong team star Nguyen Cao Cuong, on behalf of The Cong - Viettel football team, presented a portrait relief of General Vo Chi Thanh and the 1974 Championship Cup to the museum. Photo: Hoang Hieu/VNA

After the great victory of Dien Bien Phu, the Geneva Agreement was signed, peace was restored, and a new era of the country began. With the foresight and broad vision of a leader, the General, at that time in his position as Director of the General Department of Politics, signed a Directive to establish a Military Sports and Physical Training Team. On September 23, 1954, the team was established, staffed and directly under the General Department of Politics; the army called it The Cong, the predecessor of the Military Sports and Physical Training Center and the Viettel Sports Center today. The team's task was to represent the Army in a number of popular sports, to compete with sectors and localities; together with art troupes to take over the capital Hanoi and major cities, organize cultural and sports activities, contributing to stabilizing a healthy spiritual life in liberated areas. The team was also the core to build the movement and train sports and physical training cadres for the Army.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Cao Tam Tinh, Deputy Director of the Military Sports Center (Military Training Department, General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army), during his lifetime, despite being busy with many important tasks, General Nguyen Chi Thanh still paid great attention, spent a lot of time and mind directing the team from organizing forces to operating directions and principles. After each successful match, the General praised them. When there were mistakes or shortcomings, the General reminded them to review, find the cause and correct them.

An unchanging requirement of the General for The Cong is to always be worthy of being “Uncle Ho’s Soldier” in the field of physical education and sports; military soldiers must not only know how to fight but also know how to work. Work is cultural and sports propaganda activities, taking their efforts in that field as the leading flag.

In the book "Stories about General Nguyen Chi Thanh" there is also a passage that says: "The members and players of the The Cong football team in the early days always said: "The The Cong team was founded by Chief Nguyen Chi Thanh, and its remarkable development in a short time was largely due to Thanh."

The The Cong football team is the main force of the Army Sports and Physical Training Delegation. Initially, the team had only 11 football players, most of whom were talented football students from the Army Officer School and former players who followed the resistance, accompanying the victorious army to take over the capital. Right from the first days in Hanoi, Director of the General Department of Politics Nguyen Chi Thanh gave priority to the team to be stationed at Cot Co stadium, organize training and participate in sports activities. Cot Co stadium was used as the home field of the The Cong team.

The Cong was not only the core of the movement, the main team holding the leading position, but also a symbol of Vietnamese football from 1954 to the years before the renovation period. In the difficult context, General Nguyen Chi Thanh always paid attention to directing the authorities to provide nutrition and training conditions for the team.

"As a lover of sports, especially football, General Nguyen Chi Thanh had special feelings for the The Cong Team. Although he was busy with many things, whenever he could arrange time, he would visit the players practicing. He was often there to cheer, wherever The Cong played, he would come to watch. Hang Day Stadium, Cot Co Stadium in Hanoi; then Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Son Tay... he went to all of them, cheering hoarsely. When he returned home, he was still full of enthusiasm, winning was a no-brainer, losing was a big deal... A true fan!" (excerpt from "Stories about General Nguyen Chi Thanh", People's Army Publishing House, p.212)

That affection and care has become the motivation for The Cong players to rise to the top of Vietnamese football for many years and is a bridge of friendship in domestic and international tournaments.

Responding to the General's wishes, generations of cadres, coaches and athletes of the former The Cong, the Army Sports Center and the Viettel Sports Center have always strived, tried, and overcome all difficulties and hardships in training and competition. Not only have they achieved many glorious achievements in domestic and international sports competitions, sports have also become an important field of work of the Vietnam People's Army, contributing to spreading the spirit of physical training following the example of great Uncle Ho throughout the entire army as well as throughout our people. Army Sports has been recognized by many fans as a special "army" of the Vietnam People's Army according to the testament of General Nguyen Chi Thanh.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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