WOMEN'S FOOTBALL SPIRIT: Bright faces of the Community Cup

Behind every match at the Community Cup are stories of tears, sacrifices, but above all, an unquenchable passion for football. Let's get to know three female players with Legends who have chosen to keep their passion alive through thick and thin, and are now back on the field for their most sincere love of football.

Rô Nguyễn (Sài Gòn Xanh FC): From a plastic ball to the captain's armband

Rô Nguyễn is currently the captain of Sài Gòn Xanh FC. Rô's love for football began in her hometown, where a proper football field was a luxury. Rô and her friends would roll plastic bags into a ball and run to the fields to play, simply because they enjoyed it, never thinking that football would one day become an important part of her life.

Growing up and working as a seamstress in the wedding dress industry, the demands of work did not keep her away from the field. As soon as her shift ended or on weekends, Rô Nguyễn would head to the field, where she felt she could “forget all the pressure and fatigue after a long day.” Rô admits to being quite introverted and reserved, but it was football that gave her friends who cared for and encouraged each other.

Entrusted with the captain's armband, for Rô Nguyễn, it's the role of someone who “stands up to listen, connects everyone, and works together to solve problems so the whole team stays united.” For Rô, the greatest joy is still playing on the field with her teammates: “As long as there's a tournament, we'll go. As long as we get to play, we're happy.”

Diệu Linh (Sài Gòn Xanh FC): The only one who loved football in a small neighborhood and her journey back to passion

Diệu Linh is a player for Sài Gòn Xanh FC and also serves as the team's “field doctor,” always present to provide first aid to injured teammates. Little did many know, Linh's journey into football began in her childhood in Đồng Nai, where she was the only one among her young friends who loved the round ball. Since the cooler hours of the day were always reserved for the older boys, Linh and her friends had to play in the scorching midday sun, running with a plastic ball for three to four hours.

At the age of 7, Diệu Linh received an invitation to train in professional football, but due to her large family and financial difficulties, her parents could not agree. That dream faded with time as the neighborhood team disbanded and life took Linh in a different direction.

Now, with a stable job as a rehabilitation technician, Diệu Linh has found her way back to the field every evening after work. Looking back on that journey, she said: “After going in a big circle, it turns out I've never left the field, my favorite place.”

Nguyễn Thị Trâm (Happy FC): Speed, passion, and a choice for family

Nguyễn Thị Trâm is a forward for Happy FC, known for her speedy play and ability to break away when she sees an opening. Trâm started chasing after her brother with a ball from kindergarten and became the only girl among her male friends in the neighborhood to play football. Trâm remembers those games as “fiery, intense clashes” with no holds barred.

One of the moments she remembers most in her career was the goal against Son La in 2023 at a National Championship, a moment that, in Tram's words, “the space around me froze, then happiness burst forth.”.

However, the days of professional football also caused Tram's health to decline, and her family could not hide their worry. Although her parents always supported that passion, Tram decided to stop and move to Saigon to learn hairdressing. Tram shared that it was not because her passion had faded, but a “worthwhile” trade-off for her family's peace of mind. That passion has never died down: she does hair during the day, and in the evening, Tram still goes out to play informal football with her teammates.

Three stories, three different paths, but all encompassing perseverance, gratitude, and an unquenched love for football. It could be a ball made from a plastic bag, scorching hot midday sessions, or a decision to put passion aside for filial piety. But no matter how big the detour, Rô Nguyễn, Diệu Linh, and Nguyễn Thị Trâm still find their way back to the pitch where they belong.

That is also the spirit that Community Cup wants to spread: a playground not only for stars, but for everyone who carries a love for football within them. Don't miss the opportunity to witness such beautiful stories firsthand. Follow Legends today to get the latest match schedule, be in the stands, and cheer on the Community Cup players in the upcoming season.