Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament: Workers' Festival

Through two seasons of the Vietnam Workers' and Civil Servants' Football Tournament, what remains clearly is the excitement and immersion in the tournament of the players and fans.

Bac Ninh Trade Union Team 2 actively practices technical and tactical skills for the 2025 Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament - Photo: DBCC

"The enthusiastic response and participation of trade unions at all levels, units and enterprises shows the strong vitality of the tournament and the efforts of trade unions at all levels in taking care of the material and spiritual lives of union members and workers," Mr. Nguyen Manh Kien - Deputy Head of the Labor Relations Department, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) - told Tuoi Tre.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Kien

* Sir, after 3 years of organization, what impressions has the Vietnam Workers' and Civil Servants' Football Tournament left on union members across the country?

- After 3 years of organization, the Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament has become a prestigious tournament that creates a playground for health training, spiritual and cultural activities, and health improvement for union members, workers and civil servants nationwide. Having a professional, prestigious, national-scale tournament will encourage, motivate, and spread the sports training movement widely among union members and workers at the grassroots level.

* Many union members say that the tournament is not only a sports playground but also a place to relieve pressure, connect colleagues, and even arouse pride in the profession. What do you think about this point of view?

- That's right, the general spirit of sports, especially football, is solidarity and nobility. Participating in the Vietnam Workers' and Civil Servants' Football Tournament, union members and workers can satisfy their passion for the round ball at a grassroots tournament at the highest level of the country.

Brothers and sisters were able to relieve pressure after stressful working days, interact with union members and workers across the country and arouse professional pride through competitions for the flag and the uniform.

Through 2 seasons, we clearly feel the excitement and the immersion in the tournament of the players and fans. This is not only the desire of the Trade Union but also the common desire and goal of the co-organizers of the tournament, Tuoi Tre newspaper and the Vietnam Football Federation.

* Besides football, sideline activities such as free medical examination and support for workers affected by storms and floods are also responded to by many workers?

- Coming to the tournament, in addition to immersing in the football atmosphere, union members and workers also receive free medical examinations, free medicine, gifts, and lucky draws. These are practical activities, suitable to the needs, desires and conditions of workers.

In the first season of 2023, the organizing committee mobilized sponsorship and donated 50 motorbikes to 50 workers in difficult circumstances in the localities where the qualifying and final rounds of the tournament were held. In the 2024 season, the organizing committee mobilized and supported the families of workers in the northern provinces affected by Typhoon Yagi with an amount of 2.1 billion VND.

Those meaningful activities show that the Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament is not only a regular sports tournament but also a festival imbued with trade union colors and profound humanity.

* Some people think that the tournament should add career counseling, skills orientation, and psychological support for workers to become a real "union festival". What is your opinion?

- The organizing committee always pays attention to and creates sideline activities to serve workers and laborers. Activities are maintained and innovated each season, but the common point is to serve the most practical needs and aspirations of union members and laborers. Career counseling, recruitment connection, skill orientation, and psychological support are activities that the organizing committee considers and wishes to implement in the future.

We will discuss solutions to implement meaningful and humane activities and welcome units and businesses to participate, thereby demonstrating social responsibility and contributing to enhancing the reputation of the business.

* What other message do you want to send to this year's tournament?

- This year's tournament was held right after the reorganization of the political system and local government at two levels. This is a great effort by the co-organizing units and participating teams to maintain a playground for workers, thereby encouraging and motivating the spirit of the brothers and sisters when implementing the new model activities.

I hope that the players will compete with all their might in the spirit of solidarity, honesty, and nobility, bringing fans good matches and beautiful goals. Union members, workers, and fans across the country will follow and cheer for the tournament directly at the competition venues as well as on digital platforms so that the tournament will become increasingly high-quality and successful, spreading the sense of responsibility of the whole society. Thereby, we will have more and more suitable cultural and sports playgrounds.

Bac Ninh workers are ready to compete

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc - Vice President of the Bac Ninh Provincial Federation of Labor - assessed that the tournament was truly a festival, contributing positively to the cultural and sports movement in the province. Grassroots unions and enterprises all supported and encouraged workers to participate.

With more than 450,000 union members, the Bac Ninh Provincial Federation of Labor always wants workers and laborers to have more playgrounds to relieve pressure after work, connect people and improve mental and physical health. For example, the Union is organizing the first Bac Ninh Provincial Men's and Women's Football Tournament in 2025 with 110 teams and nearly 2,000 athletes.

Regarding the 2025 Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament, the Provincial Federation of Labor has requested grassroots unions and enterprises to create favorable conditions for athletes to participate in the tournament, such as rearranging shifts and flexible schedules...

Besides the football tournament, in 2024 Bac Ninh organized a job fair, attracting more than 2,000 workers to participate, so the Provincial Federation of Labor hopes to spread meaningful sideline activities like this to practically care for workers.

The teams are excited to practice in preparation for the tournament - Photo: NGOC LE

Ready for opening day

All preparations for the Northern qualifying round of the Vietnam Workers and Civil Servants Football Tournament 2025 were officially completed after a technical meeting on the afternoon of October 2 at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Gymnasium. The meeting was attended by representatives of the organizing committee, the referee team and representatives of 16 teams. The meeting reviewed all technical issues and regulations for the last time, and answered practical questions, ensuring the tournament is ready to kick off in the most professional and fair manner.

Entering its third year, the tournament, jointly organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Football Federation and Tuoi Tre newspaper, has affirmed its position as the most prestigious and anticipated sports playground in the working community nationwide. The goal of the tournament is not only to create a healthy playground but also to contribute to improving the spiritual and cultural life, strengthening solidarity in units and enterprises.

At the meeting, many practical issues were raised and satisfactorily resolved. The highlight of this year's tournament is that all matches will be broadcast live on VTVcab and FPT Play platforms. Mr. Nguyen Manh Kien - representative of the organizing committee - emphasized that this requires teams to present the most neat and professional image.

The Northern Regional Qualifiers will take place from October 3 to 5, bringing together 16 excellent teams divided into 4 groups, competing in a round-robin format. This year’s competition format offers a wide range of opportunities for teams with up to 6 places to participate in the national finals.

Specifically, the 8 strongest teams (4 first teams and 4 second teams in each group) will enter the quarter-finals. The four winning teams will get direct tickets. The four losing teams still have the opportunity with 2 play-off tickets and promise dramatic matches full of surprises.

The opening ceremony was held on the morning of October 3. With careful preparation in all aspects, from the field, security, medical care to technical expertise, the Northern qualifying round was ready for dedicated, explosive matches with a noble sportsmanship spirit.

In 2025, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Football Federation and Tuoi Tre newspaper will continue to coordinate to organize the Vietnam Workers' and Civil Servants' Football Tournament. Entering its third year of organization, the tournament has affirmed its position as an annual and prestigious playground for workers, civil servants and laborers across the country, contributing to promoting the movement of physical exercise and sports, improving the cultural and spiritual life of workers, civil servants and laborers in particular and the whole society in general.

This year's tournament is honored to receive the support of Truong Hai Group Joint Stock Company (THACO); Dong Luc Sports Group; HTP Pharmaceutical Investment Joint Stock Company; Hoa Sen Group Joint Stock Company; Sunshine Group; Saigon Water Corporation (SAWACO); Faslink Joint Stock Company; 108 Central Military Hospital; 175 Military Hospital and a number of enterprises.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giai-bong-da-cong-nhan-vien-chuc-viet-nam-ngay-hoi-cua-nguoi-lao-dong-20251003073756111.htm