New fire-bringer at VTV Binh Dien Long An

Officially leading VTV Binh Dien Long An for just over a month, coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa has led her team to win the 6th national championship in history.

In the "golden generation" of Vietnamese women's volleyball in the 2000s and 2010s, many players chose to pursue a coaching career after retiring from competition. However, not all of the famous stars such as Pham Kim Hue, Pham Thi Yen, Bui Thi Hue... were successful on the coaching bench, whether they were head coach or assistant.

It is not an exaggeration to say that history "selected" Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa. In June 2024, she was appointed as head coach of the Long An youth women's team and immediately brought the team to the national youth championship. At the end of the year, she "reappeared" as an assistant coach and athlete of VTV Binh Dien Long An and the best women's team in the South won the national championship for the fifth time in 2024.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa (left cover) and the new series of miracles of Vietnamese women's volleyball. Photo: THIEN HOANG

Ngoc Hoa also did not think that she would be given the responsibility of steering VTV Binh Dien Long An - the team she has been with since 2004 as a first-team player when she was only 16 years old. Previous coaches such as Suzuki, Luong Khuong Thuong, Nguyen Quoc Vu, Luong Nguyen Ngoc Hien or Thai Quang Lai have brought the name of the Southwestern team to the star ranks of Vietnamese women's volleyball, but perhaps Ngoc Hoa's case is "unique".

She took over VTV Binh Dien Long An after coach Thai Quang Lai left and with a squad of players who were mostly former students of Long An's youth team, plus a few faces who fought alongside her in the campaign to conquer the championship last season, Ngoc Hoa added strength to the team that had captured her "youth".

Without the main players Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Phan Khanh Vy and Nguyen Thi Tra My, VTV Binh Dien Long An is not as weak as many people feared. Along with the timely return of former captain Kim Thanh, young faces like Lu Phuong, Lan Vy, Nhu Anh matured "dizzyingly fast" to form a new framework for the old Long An team with Kim Thoa and Khanh Dang.

While still playing, Ngoc Hoa was an important member of VTV Binh Dien Long An in all 5 national championships. Now, she has brought home the 6th championship title as "captain". That achievement helps Ngoc Hoa officially write her name in history as the first woman to win the national volleyball championship in both the roles of athlete and coach.

Coach Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa knows how to inspire fighting spirit and confidence in young students. Ngoc Hoa emphasizes discipline and competitive spirit, but always maintains a friendly atmosphere during training. Students see her as both a coach and an older sister - someone who is willing to give advice, share and protect them from all pressures.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nguoi-truyen-lua-moi-o-vtv-binh-dien-long-an-196251017212952928.htm