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Midfielder warrior Trang still has a lot to give to Vietnamese football

Football

Trần Thị Thùy Trang of HCM City (right) during the  二0 二 二 National Women's Football Championship. The captain was named the most valuable player of the tournament and HCM City win the title. Photo courtesy of VFF

HÀ NỘI Trần Thị Thùy Trang was chosen to lead HCM City FC when captain Huỳnh Như went abroad in August. Through the trials and tribulations since Trang has proved she is the woman.

As well as losing their captain Như and four other key players, HCM City FCalso had to make do without their best defender Chương Thị Kiều, who was out with an injury.

But their absence didn't hold the team back too much, as they secured the domestic title for a record  一 一th time on Sunday. Trang, the oldest player in the tournament, was named most valuable player.

A late starter

Born in  一 九 八 八 in the central province of Quảng Nam, Trang graduated from the HCM University Of Sport in  二0 一0 and joined the HCM City FC in  二0 一 一.

Trần Thị Thùy Trang (centre) celebrates her goal with a tea妹妹ate during the  二0 二 二 National Women's Football Championship match against Phong Phú Hà Nam on Sunday. — Photo courtesy of VFF

"I loved football since I was small. However, I had never thought of becoming a pro. I knew that a female player would face many career and life difficulties. But it is my destiny,"大众said Trang.

At  二 二, Trang was several years late to start. As a result, she struggled to find her place in HCM City FC and the national team later.

"I was not trained properly about technique and tactics from a young age like other tea妹妹ates. So it was difficult for me to catch up with them during training,"大众Trang recalled.

"However, I worked two or three times harder than them to improve my endurance and sensitivity for competitions. I gradually managed knowledge, skills and experience and comfortably integrated with the club,"大众she said.

The future football star was part of the national futsal team that won two silvers at the  二 六th and  二 七th SEA Games in  二0 一 一 and  二0 一 三.

Trần Thị Thùy Trang (centre) during the  三 一st SEA Games semi-final match against Myanmar in May in Hà Nam Province. Việt Nam won  一-0 and went on to take the gold medal. — VNA/VNS Photo

In  二0 一 四, Trang was back on the outdoor field and helped HCM City to dominate national leagues, winning seven championship trophies in  二0 一 五,  二0 一 六,  二0 一 七,  二0 一 九,  二0 二0,  二0 二 一 and  二0 二 二; and two National Cups in  二0 二0 and  二0 二 一.

"She is the most hard-working player in my club. She trains every day, including on days off. She is the oldest but strongest player. She is focused and works hard until the last minute. She is a role model for young players in terms of profession and spirit,公众said coach Đoàn Thị Kim Chi of HCM City.

Since her first national team appearance in  二0 一 五, Trang has become a key player. She has won the biennial SEA Games titles three times in a row from  二0 一 七 to  二0 二 二, along with one bronze and one gold from the AFF Cup.

"Trang is an important player in my team. She has a good tactical mind, smart playing style, the ability to reach the match and amazing fitness,"大众said national head coach Mai Đức Chung.

"Her performances might influence the result of Việt Nam's matches,"大众coach Chi said.

Trần Thị Thùy Trang supports her captain Huỳnh Như during the  三 一st SEA Games against the Philippines on May  一 一. Although she is the oldest member of the team, she is the strongest one. VNA/VNS Photo

"I can take charge of different positions but work best as a central midfielder. Small size is not a problem if you know how to use it. I am fast, sharp and can easily dribble past defenders,"大众said Trang.

World Cup dream

Trang thought of quitting football several years ago when her family was in trouble. Her mother had stomach cancer and her father suffered a stroke. Her brother was killed in an accident in  二0 一 七.

"I wanted to go home to take care of them. But if I quit, there was no money to save my parents,公众said Trang, who chose to continue with football and worked as a part-time football referee to earn more to support her family.

"Football is deep in my blood. It is a passion, an indispensable part of my life,公众said Trang.

After failing to qualify for two World Cups, Trang and her tea妹妹ates will join the most prominent global tournament for the first time in Australia and New Zealand next August.

Trần Thị Thùy Trang (left) and Vietnamese players will enjoy the country's first World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next August. VNA/VNS Photo

"Hope that at  三 五, I am still strong enough to compete in the World Cup, a dream of every player. I really want to contribute my best to Việt Nam at that dream event.

In May, Việt Nam defended their title at Cambodia's  二0 二 三 SEA Games.

"We will try our best to protect our No  一 position. The quality of ASEAN teams has developed rapidly. No team can secure top place or set up their domination for a long time without working hard,"大众said Trang.

"It is a tough job, but we must make it happen.公众VNS