Ton Duc Thang University students shine in the 2023 national first division

Football enthusiast student

Nguyen Le Minh Khoi (Binh Thuan team) is the owner of the most beautiful goal of round 14 of the 2023 first division, with a long-range cannon shot from 30 meters that tore through the net of PVF CAND team. After scoring, he celebrated with his teammates and then ran to the technical area to hug Binh Thuan team head coach Nguyen Minh Dung.

Student Minh Khoi (8) scored the most beautiful goal in round 14 of the 2023 national first division

Looking at their actions, eyes and gestures towards each other, one feels that it is not simply a relationship between teacher and student. When asked, it turns out that they are father and son.

In the first moments of the conversation, we did not know that Minh Khoi was the son of coach Nguyen Minh Dung. Only when asked who had inspired his passion for football when he was young, Khoi revealed, "It was my father, my current coach."

“My father passed on his passion to me but did not want me to play football. He had been in the profession for decades and knew that football had its difficulties and hardships. He wanted me to go to school. Because I was passionate, I asked my family to let me go to school and then passed the entrance exam to Binh Duong.”

Student Minh Khoi said that he only practiced with Binh Duong youth team until the end of U.15. Following his parents' advice, he temporarily stopped playing football to focus on studying. "At that time, U.15 Binh Duong was about to be transferred to the upper team managed by Becamex company. Their headquarters is in Ben Cat. My parents were afraid that I would be too far away to manage, so they advised me to stop playing football and stay home to study."

Coach Minh Dung (left cover) in Binh Thuan team shirt

Seeing his teammates promoted to the youth team, while he had to leave, Minh Khoi felt regretful. But he still listened to his family's advice.

Unlike many players, who are too busy practicing and competing, causing them to neglect their studies, Minh Khoi studies very well. “For 12 consecutive years, I have been an excellent student. Because of this, my mother is very confused. Half wants me to stay home and go to school, the other half wants me to play football to follow my passion.

When I was at home, I still did not give up my passion for football. There were many days when I played with my friends from 3pm until 9pm before coming home. However, I still made sure to study.

After finishing grade 12, I passed the entrance exam to the Environmental Engineering Technology major at Ton Duc Thang University," shared the player who won third place in the 2015 National Youth Championship with U.13 Binh Duong.

Followed father to Binh Thuan to play professionally

Minh Khoi (red shirt) has the opportunity to face Viettel FC in the National Cup

In college, Minh Khoi's passion for football was further developed. He spent more and more time on football. Because of this, his academic performance was significantly affected.

Seeing his son's great interest, Coach Minh Dung said: "If you are passionate, follow me to Binh Thuan to play in the first division. But only for 1 year. After 1 year, you must return to finish university and then we can continue." Khoi happily accepted the beautiful offer like a dream.

After playing all 7-a-side and 11-a-side national tournaments for Ton Duc Thang University in December 2022, Minh Khoi packed his bags and headed to the Central region to join the Binh Thuan team. At first, he also encountered many difficulties. Most notably, the training intensity was quite heavy compared to a player from a student environment.

However, Minh Khoi did not hesitate at all. He wanted to prove that he was worthy of his father's trust. "Having my father as head coach is a great fortune for me personally. My father has been in the profession for many years, instructing and guiding me on what to do and what not to do. It is not easy for a student player to have the opportunity to play professionally in his first year like me," he said.

When asked if he was afraid of criticism from his teammates as the son of a head coach, Minh Khoi confidently said: “My father has been a coach for many years, so he understands things very well. On the field, he is always fair. Besides, I have been used to this since I was little. Before, my father also coached me in the Binh Duong youth team.

If I make a mistake, I am always the one who gets scolded the most and harshly. My father rarely overestimates my abilities. But I am not angry with him. I understand why he does that. I always try my best to prove that I am on the field because of my ability."

Up to now, the Ton Duc Thang University student has played 13/14 matches for Binh Thuan, half of which were as a starter. His favorite position is central midfielder, where he can demonstrate his strengths in the ability to compete and launch attacks.

In addition to the super goal against PVF, this player also had an assist in Binh Thuan's 3-2 win over Phu Dong in round 13.

He admitted that he still had weaknesses in physical strength and mental strength. Many times, Khoi could not control himself, got angry and received yellow cards from the referee (4 cards since the beginning of the season). Coach Minh Dung from the technical cabin had to constantly remind him.

Minh Khoi (left) has a very good physique.

Talking about his upcoming goals, the midfielder born in 2002 shared: “My personal goal is to learn and experience the professional football environment. I am taking a year off from school so I want to make the most of this time to improve my skills.

After this season, I will return to school as promised to my family. Football is not stable. In the future, if I cannot get into V-League, I will return to life, I will have a professional degree to work.

As for the common goal with Binh Thuan, we are determined to help the team stay in the first season of the first division," Khoi expressed.

Sharing with us on August 6, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Long - team manager and also a teacher of the Faculty of Sports Science at Ton Duc Thang University, confirmed that Nguyen Le Minh Khoi is a member of his school's team. He said that his student asked to reserve a semester to play in the first division. On August 28, this midfielder will return to Ton Duc Thang University to continue completing his unfinished subjects. Let's wait and see in the next few years, whether Coach Nguyen Minh Dung's son can become a professional player as he wishes.

What did coach Nguyen Minh Dung say about his son?

"I have been playing football for many years so I understand the hardships of the profession. When it comes to my children, I want them to go to school properly so that they can have a stable job after graduation. This time I sent my child to Binh Thuan because he loves it so much.

He was so busy playing soccer that he couldn't study at school. He had to repeat a subject. He asked to defer for a year so that he could repeat it again next year. When Khoi asked his father to go to Binh Thuan to challenge him, his mother and aunts reacted very strongly. It wasn't like he was going anywhere.

When he was young, Khoi was called up to the national U15 team, but I made him stay home and study. I thought Khoi's ability was only average. Going to school and getting a degree was still more stable. My wife and I still hold this view.

I encourage my son to study hard, get a degree, and if he still loves football at 23-24, he can still play. His ability to play in the first division is fine. If he works hard and learns for 2 more seasons, he can play in the V-League.

It's a bit slow but has form and technique.

Before, when I was working for Binh Phuoc youth team, I brought Khoi to practice for a few days and coach Minh Phuong (who was still working here at that time) showed his approval. Phuong said to let Khoi join Binh Phuoc team 1 to practice with the guys. But I just smiled and replied "you let him go, let him go to school". Now let Khoi go back to school".

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