On February 4, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held a ceremony to pay tribute to coach Mai Duc Chung. The 73-year-old coach officially retired from his glorious football career. The Year of the Dragon 2024 is the first time Mr. Chung has a complete Tet holiday with his family after many years of sacrifice for the round ball.
"My wife is the happiest"
" The person who wants me to stay home for Tet the most is my wife. Like everyone else, I just shop for enough for Tet. The best thing about Tet for me is the spirit. When she knows I'm staying home, my wife always smiles. Material things aren't too important, to her the happiest thing is for her husband to stay home and celebrate Tet fully ," coach Mai Duc Chung smiled happily.
Coach Mai Duc Chung and Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Uyen.
On cold winter days in Hanoi, the owner of the famous chicken pho restaurant on Phu Doan Street is not surprised to see Mr. Mai Duc Chung carrying a lunch box to buy pho for his wife. He travels by motorbike, dressed simply and always has a smile on his face. This year, Mr. Chung does not have to travel far.
The Year of the Dragon 2024 is the most special Tet in over 20 years for coach Mai Duc Chung. For those who work in football coaching, they do not have much time to be with their families during holidays and Tet due to the nature of their work. Sometimes, coaches have less than 5 days off before having to leave home again.
“ I have to say that this year’s Tet is the first time I can really be at home with my family. I have a happy and warm Tet and I don’t have to worry about anything. For many years, I have always worried about training plans and plans for the whole season next year. I have to do lesson plans and many other things. My mind is very comfortable, this year I can really rest and reunite with my family.
It's been a long time since I've had a Tet like this year. Sometimes I also celebrated Tet at home but only for a few days, very short. That's in the past. This year I can rest assured ," coach Mai Duc Chung excitedly said.
Mrs. Pham Thi Ngoc Uyen - wife of coach Mai Duc Chung still does simple shopping at Ngoc Ha market. Mrs. Uyen buys vegetables, meat, and necessities to provide her husband, children, and grandchildren with a complete Tet. It has been a long time since Mr. Chung stayed home for such a long time during Tet. Perhaps, after many years of not "satisfying" Tet, Mrs. Uyen is truly the happiest person as her husband said.
Coach Mai Duc Chung smiled and said: " When she knew I was staying home, my wife always smiled. Material things are not too important, for her the happiest thing is that her husband is home to celebrate Tet ."
Saying goodbye is the hardest thing
October 31 is a special milestone for coach Mai Duc Chung as well as many of his students. It was his last training session with the Vietnamese team. Huynh Nhu and her teammates faced the Japanese team - a mountain that Vietnamese women's football will find difficult to overcome in the near future.
Coach Mai Duc Chung says goodbye to Vietnamese women's football.
Player Tran Thi Duyen recalled: " That was an emotional training session. The ladies encouraged us to try harder, to try harder so that we could show our gratitude to Coach Mai Duc Chung with an impressive match. However, Mr. Chung did not say much about parting or any goodbyes. He wanted us to practice ."
Coach Mai Duc Chung does not say too many sweet words to the female players. Mr. Chung cares warmly like a father, but is also strict. Everything in the Vietnamese women's team has a framework.
" I think saying goodbye to the players is the most difficult thing. We have worked together for a long time. In the meeting before the last training session, I just said a few things to help you understand that there is still a match. But deep down, I appreciate everyone's feelings, " said coach Mai Duc Chung.
Every relationship eventually comes to an end. Coach Mai Duc Chung confided that he often lies down and thinks about how his work has been going over the years. He is satisfied with leading the Vietnamese women's team to the 2023 World Cup.
Vietnamese football still has concerns that make coach Mai Duc Chung ponder: " I also think about the unfinished things. Women's football has not really developed much, there are still many disadvantages. I do not compare it with men's football but with many Southeast Asian countries. What should we do to get more attention for women's football?"
Mai Phuong
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