Blind coaches teach children in border areas to play football

When he got there, the blind man from Hongwu grabbed his students by the shoulders and walked to the end of the yard-where about 40 children of all ages were waiting. They just wait for him to whistle and concentrate, and then immediately go on stage to warm up. After warming up, Sanh had his students practice passing the ball while the goalkeeper practiced catching the ball inside the goal.

It is only through the ears and familiarity of every player he leads that he knows whose position the ball is in, whether he kicks the wrong technique or not, and then enters the market. On the other side of the field, Sanh divided teams for U14 and U15 groups to play. Sanh arranged the lineup, so the students only need to report his name, and he will know what the players' strengths are and what weaknesses need to be overcome.

Taking advantage of the time when the two teams rested and replaced the other team, Sanh took a table, showed the young players' competition tactics, and then suggested: "U13 will participate in the competition in Hongwu City this weekend, who will sign up?". The children raised their hands for the game. Everyone who chooses your face is very happy. The blind coach smiled and said, "For three years, children have been my light and happiness."

Born an orphan, she lived with her mother, who worked in various ways to support her two brothers. In the fourth grade, he was selected by the school to participate in the exchange competition, and his enthusiasm for football began to rekindle. The poor man had no money to buy a ball, so he invited some friends nearby to kick it with coconuts and milk cans. Watching the players exercise on TV, the boy learned to follow in the morning.

Due to diligence, Sanh was selected for the U11 team in Red Bull District to play against other parts of the province. In the same year, Sanh was selected by Dong Thap to participate in the MILO Cup national championship. From here on, the Border Boys have been on the local training list. At the age of 16, Sanh joined Tongta Football Club at the same age as goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.

In the following years, winger Pan Wenshan played for the neighboring provincial team on a loan contract. After that, he played for football teams in Jianjiang, Battalion and Penang provinces. In 2016, while waiting for the contract to be liquidated and returned to China, the incident happened. At the peak of his career, traffic accidents took the winger's eyes away.

"When I woke up, I was depressed and wanted to give up my life, but my relatives and friends gave me a lot of encouragement and help. I can't be selfish." With the motto of "crippled but not crippled", Sanh began to get used to the darkness and every corner of the house. After a few months, he can help his mother clean and cook.

Three years ago, because she missed the stadium and her career in digital shorts so much, Sanh groped to the football field near her home. Although he can't see anything but sit in a corner of the yard and listen to others play football, Sanh seems relieved. The children saw this because Sanh only played football. Over time, the children ran back to the house every morning and invited them to the training ground.

He set up FC Passion Club, and the number of students is increasing day by day. They proposed to him that it be renamed Phan Van Sanh Community Football Team. In just over a year, nearly 400 children asked to join Uncle Sanh's football team, which expanded to neighboring communes.

To teach children, Sanh decided not to charge money, but set a standard-he must achieve average or higher academic performance to accept it, and can't indulge in games, swearing, smoking … Many times, if children are disobedient or play truant, school teachers will still have children. "There are acquaintances of mine in the game shops, and anyone who sneaks around playing games, I will punish them immediately," he said.

Pham Nhat Duy, following Uncle Sanh's football team from the start. During the summer vacation, the 13-year-old boy practiced ball every morning and afternoon. Although he was tired, he was very happy. The young goalkeeper told him that Uncle Sanh taught him the basics, taught him to catch the ball and then play the game. "In the near future, I will also be selected for the competition," boasted the Border Boys.

Pham Thi Ia, the parent of a young player, was very surprised when her son asked to join Uncle Sanh's football team. Despite her skepticism, she didn't stop and went to the football field silently to observe. The mother of Thuong Phuoc 1 was amazed at the way a young man who never saw the light again taught football. "On the pitch, Sanh knows everything and I have to admit he's too good," she said. Birth is completely free. Parents only pooled their money to rent training grounds and cars to compete. Sometimes he even spends money to buy water for students.

It's one thing to study on the court. Sanh is still listening. Wherever there are children's games, he takes the students to rub. In the past two years, when he heard that the Youth Football Training Center (PVF) recruited talented players in the same tower, he took the students to try. So far, PVF has selected two children and is currently practicing in Da Nang. Last year, in the U13 Championship in Hongwu District, the team led by Sanh won the championship and U11 won the runner-up...

In addition to seeing a doctor and three months of acupoint massage training, Sinh practiced daily on the football field for children in the area for three years. At present, his greatest wish is to find the light, and then have more tools for children to practice.