The Cong FC – a special brand

In the 1990s, the fan club for The Cong FC was established in Ho Chi Minh City. I was deeply moved when I received the fan card No.1 and remembered clearly my first time stepping into Cot Co Stadium to watch The Cong FC. For nearly 40 years, I have kept my passion and faithfulness towards the military's football team.

The Cong football team in 1955 (File photo)

Now I am 78. That means I have been in love with The Cong FC for 68 years. During wartime, we had to move out of Hanoi and the matches were canceled. However, every time meeting with friends we caught up on the latest news about the club. Each match of the team was recounted numerous times by us. The team evoked the unwavering camaraderie and determination. The team represented determination, dreams, and aspirations. It was peculiar and challenging to explain. When we were far away from Hanoi, we had no chances to play or watch football at Cot Co Stadium or Hang Day Stadium, but stories about The Cong FC continued to be part of our daily life.

I think that each generation of The Cong FC is glorious in its way because it has many talented individuals. Each generation is remembered for the achievements and the names of its players. Among these generations, one is often highlighted - The 1965 team, later called The Cong 1965 for short.

Writing about one generation is also a time to reflect on other generations, including the current generation of The Cong - Viettel FC. Every generation of The Cong is honored to inherit the club's traditions and is proud to contribute to enriching its glorious history.

Forward Nham Manh Dung (right) represents the youth and the desire for victory of The Cong - Viettel FC.

Over the decades, The Cong has become a special brand of the Vietnamese football. This brand has naturally evolved from the foundation of numerous historical and long-standing elements. It can be said that The Cong is the product of a particular historical context in a heroic era of the entire nation. We hope to see more clubs like this emerging. The path to professional football will be long and challenging!

By Journalist VU CONG LAP

Translated by Trung Thanh