Huynh Nhu: 'My teammates in Lank used to think I was a child'
At the end of August 2022, Huynh Nhu went to Portugal and practiced the first sessions at Lank FC. She vividly remembers the first glances of her teammates. "They heard the news that there were Asian players, thought they were very tall," Huynh Nhu shared with the media at PVF Football Center, Hung Yen this afternoon. "But when they met, they were surprised, thinking I was a student or a child. The oldest in the team, but I was like the youngest in the family."
On September 11, 2022, Huynh Nhu played for the first time when he entered the field from the 88th minute to beat Valaderes Gaia, and then had four more matches as a substitute. By November 2022, Huynh Nhu completely conquered his teammates with a brace in two consecutive matches: drawing Famalicao 3-3 and then winning Ovarense 5-0. The striker born in 1991 affirmed that she integrated so quickly thanks to the great support from her teammates.
"I am fortunate to be loved and respected by Lank members," Huynh Nhu shared. "After the game, we often go out to eat. I also sometimes cook Vietnamese food so that everyone can bond more."
Teammates often drag Huynh Nhu into fun games or dancing in the dressing room. The Vietnamese striker gradually integrated into the culture in Lank, expressed by dancing to the song "See love" - a hit by Vietnamese singer Hoang Thuy Linh - when opening the score in the 2-1 victory over Toreense. 4/2.
When she learned that Huynh Nhu was on leave to return to Vietnam to rest, her teammates told her two things. "People told me to go back and bring them presents," the 32-year-old revealed.
Huynh Nhu is also proud to make Lank members more interested in Vietnam. "For the New Year this year, I composed a rhyme to congratulate the new year and was well received by the whole team," Huynh Nhu said. "In the end, they learned the phrase 'Happy New Year', and saying it over and over again makes me very happy. It's these little things that make me less homesick."
The striker from Tra Vinh hopes that her time playing in Lank will help her accumulate more experience to help Vietnamese football in the future. She also believes that Vietnamese female players have good enough qualities to compete in Portugal and some European countries. "I hope clubs and VFF create more conditions for female players to have the opportunity to challenge themselves like me," Huynh Nhu said.
After half a year, Huynh Nhu played a total of 16 matches, scoring six and assisting two goals. She has the second highest scoring performance in the team, just behind Malu Schmidt - the Brazilian striker with 0.44 goals per game compared to Huynh Nhu's 0.38. She said she is working hard to join the team to reach the top 4 of the Portuguese women's championship this season. Currently, Lank is sixth with 20 points, eight points behind fourth-placed Damaiense.
Huynh Nhu's contract with Lank will expire after May 2023, but she has not thought about the future, but wants to focus on competing. Besides, Huynh also left open the possibility of attending the 32nd SEA Games in May with the Vietnamese women's team. However, the veteran striker will attend a training trip abroad with the national team to prepare for the 2023 World Cup in July.
Vietnam's final opponent in Group E will be determined after the play-off match between Portugal and Cameroon on February 22. Huynh Nhu hopes Portugal will win to create an interesting match. "Everyone in Lank is also looking forward to the match between Portugal and Vietnam at the World Cup," Huynh Nhu said. "They have a professional tournament, but I don't think it's far from Vietnamese women's football."
Huynh Nhu returned to Vietnam on February 19, then she went to Hanoi to apply for a visa extension. On the evening of February 25, she was present in Ho Chi Minh City to attend the 2022 Vietnam Golden Ball award ceremony, and is likely to have the fifth time to win this noble individual award. After that, Huynh Nhu will return to Portugal, with Lank to prepare for the match against SC Braga in the national championship on March 5.
