From the brink of collapse to the power of Vietnamese women's football

Progress of Thai Nguyen T&T

In 2019, the Thai Nguyen women's team, now Thai Nguyen T&T, faced the risk of disbanding. Having participated in women's football for many years under the name TNG Thai Nguyen or Thai Nguyen Steel, the tea team turned into a "dead end" 5 years ago.

Investment from businesses is drying up, the province can't support the club, causing many players to lose income. Many players choose to work as factory workers, although the salary is low, it's still... better than playing football.

Thai Nguyen T&T (blue shirt) won the Hanoi International Friendly Tournament 2024

The situation of Thai Nguyen Club reflects the contrast in Vietnamese women's football. While the national team receives investment, the women's club lacks sponsors every year. If Thai Nguyen women's team withdraws, the women's tournament will only have 5 participating localities, including Hanoi, Ha Nam, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City and Son La.

However, the appearance of T&T Group has brought the Thai Nguyen women's team back on track. After the company took over the tea team, the players' treatment was improved, with better nutrition and training than before. Many faces decided to return to football, helping the Thai Nguyen T&T women's team have enough players to compete.

2022 witnessed a historic turning point for Thai Nguyen T&T Club as well as Vietnamese women's football. The tea-land team successfully recruited defender Nguyen Thi My Anh and striker Le Hoai Luong from the Ho Chi Minh City women's team. For the first time, the definition of "contract fee" (or signing bonus) appeared in Vietnamese women's football.

This is a familiar concept in men's football, but in women's football, players often stay with a club for the rest of their career, or only leave when their home team no longer needs them. The deal with My Anh helps Thai Nguyen T&T change the rules of the game. The club has good players, and the players themselves have more income and options.

Bich Thuy in new shirt

After 2 years, the tea country team continued to bring in Tran Thi Kim Thanh (current Vietnam Golden Ball), Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (current Vietnam Bronze Ball) and Tran Thi Thu. Thai Nguyen T&T women's club finished third in the national championship for the first time in the same year, breaking the "tripod" position of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Coal and Minerals.

Women's football needs sustainable investment

The presence of businesses at the club level is essential for Vietnamese women's football. Women's football cannot develop if businesses only invest in the team (bonuses, training sponsorship), but forget about the roots, which are the domestic tournaments.

For a long time, the women's tournament has been "sponsored" by a single sponsor: Thai Son Bac. At the club level, except for Thai Nguyen T&T and Vietnam Coal and Minerals, the remaining clubs live off the provincial/municipal budget.

It is no wonder that businesses are not interested in women's football. Empty stands, low profitability, and poor visual effects... are the reasons why women's teams lack appeal.

In that context, having businesses invest money to develop the club is valuable. In recent years, T&T Group has sponsored the Thai Nguyen women's team, in 2020 it was 1.9 billion VND; in 2021 it was 1.6 billion VND; in 2022 it was 3.8 billion VND and in 2023 it was 3.2 billion VND.

Thai Nguyen T&T is a candidate to win the 2024 Women's National Cup

Over the past 2 years, Thai Nguyen T&T Club has brought in 4 national players. The coaching staff has also changed, as the team signed a contract with Van Thi Thanh - the first female coach in Vietnam to have an AFC Pro license. Right at the first tournament (Hanoi International Friendly Tournament), Thai Nguyen T&T defeated Beijing Club, Manila Diggers and tied with Hanoi Club to win the championship.

After 5 years of investment, Thai Nguyen T&T Club has grown up and gained the respect of its opponents, but the team needs another title to create a boost. The opportunity will come at the 2024 Women's National Cup, taking place from November 28.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-thai-nguyen-tt-tu-ben-bo-sup-do-den-the-luc-bong-da-nu-viet-nam-185241118111254708.htm