The 17-year-old Ukrainian overseas Vietnamese player wants to return to Vietnam to play

In recent years, the number of overseas Vietnamese players who want to return to contribute to the Vietnamese national team is not a small number. And also in recent times in Denmark and Germany, many young Ukrainian players have been accepted to train and work in local football centers, where refugee camps are set up nearby. Among the lucky players from Ukraine, there is a remarkable name – Nguyen Manh Cuong.

Recently, the newspaper Soha had an interview with this 17-year-old overseas Vietnamese player. Nguyen Manh Cuong currently plays for the U17 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv team. The young player born in 2005 is 1m73 tall, right-footed, can play in many positions such as full-back, striker and winger. Cuong has dual citizenship, Vietnam and Ukraine.

Born in Vietnam and having both Vietnamese parents, but since childhood, Cuong has traveled between Vietnam and Ukraine. Young footballer has a passion for football since childhood. That’s why, when studying in Vietnam was too stressful, Cuong’s father decided to move to Ukraine to live. Here, Cuong just needs to study and focus on football.

As a young player, Cuong aims to pursue a professional football career and be on the national team list in the near future. When asked about his future plans, Cuong shared with Soha:

“I’m 17 years old this year, technically I’m about to graduate from high school (in Ukraine, the high school level is only up to grade 11). After that, I planned to go to a sports university. That was the original plan. But now it’s time. It is not known when the exam will take place.

Besides studying, I also dream of becoming a professional footballer. Here, young Vietnamese people love football very little. Most of them play until the age of 17 and then take a break to go to school.

I want to become a player and beyond to wear the national team shirt. So, if any Vietnamese football team gives me the opportunity, I will immediately go back to my country to try the job right away.

I told you that from the day I moved to the new camp, I was invited by a local club in Denmark to try it.

This team is called Haderslev FK. This is the “mother” team of Sonderjyske (currently playing in the Danish Premier League). Haderslev FK organizes football activities at the back of the refugee camp. I knew the news, so I asked to join. They told me this week I could try out to join the team if I wanted to.”