Striker Nguyen Van Quyet is expected to take the title of Vietnamese Golden Ball for the first time in his career. (Photo bongda24h.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - After being named the best player of the 2020V.League 1 season, forward Nguyen Van Quyet is favourite to take the VietnameseGolden Ball award for the first time in his career.
The 29-year-old made great contributions to Hanoi FC last season, with fivegoals and eight assists in the National Cup, helping his side defend theirtitle.
In the national premier league, he notched five goals and five assists to helpthe capital team finish second.
Taking a look at some more advanced statistics shows just how important Quyetwas to his team.
As well as playing all 20 league matches in the season cut short by theCOVID-19 pandemic, Quyet had 55 key passes in the season to lead the league bynine.
Most tellingly, Quyet also participated in 20 out of the 37 attacks that led toa goal for Hanoi.
With these great contributions, Quyet overcame luminaries like Nguyen CongPhuong, Nguyen Quang Hai and Bui Tien Dung to be named the league's top playerand step towards winning the Golden Ball.
Gold dream
The Vietnamese Golden Ball award is the only individual title that is stillmissing in Quyet's illustrious career, though he took the Silver Ball in 2014and 2015.
In fact, Quyet was very close to the Golden Ball award in 2017 and likely wouldhave had it if Hanoi beat Quang Ninh Coal in the last match of the season towin the V.League 1 championship.
Unfortunately for Quyet, his side failed to win three points in the match andhe was sent off, dashing his chances of winning the award.
Three years after that low point, Quyet has gone from strength to strength andplays with the wily nous of a veteran.
“I still wish to win the highest title of Vietnamese football, the VietnameseGolden Ball, once. This year because the national teams don’t play because ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, this is also an opportunity for footballers in domestictournaments and I think I am among them,” said Quyet.
Firm stuff
In the quarter-finals of the National Cup on September 11, Hanoi beat Can Tho 7-0.In this match, the captain Quyet scored two goals but his fair-play was theimage that left a mark.
In the 13th minute of the match, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai was brought downin the penalty area and Quyet scored the resulting penalty. Instead ofcelebrating, Quyet ran to console the Can Tho goalkeeper.
Through such small actions, Quyet has proven his leadership and proved hedeserves to wear the captain's armband for his club.
Outstanding player
Born in 1991, when Quyet was just 15 years old, he trained at the The Cong footballtraining centre and quickly proved his talent.
In 2009, The Cong was dissolved and transferred to Viettel. Then Quyet wasmoved to Hanoi T&T and played for the club in the V.League 2 in 2010 inwhich he scored eight goals.
Quyet quickly asserted his value with his smart play, speed and good techniquein the V.League 1.
Not only that, but he was also the captain of the national U19 team thatdefeated Thailand to win the 2010 U21 International Football Championship ofThanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. In the tournament, he was voted the bestplayer.
During his career, he won the best young player of the country in 2010, 2011,was the top domestic scorer of the V.League 1 in 2012, the best player ofV.League 1 2018 and in the best team of the V.League 1 in 2011, 2014, 2015,2018 and 2019.
Better still, after this season's exploits, Quyet has been called up by coachPark Hang-seo for the national team training camp in December, after a longperiod out in the wilderness.
It seems in 2020 everything Quyet touches turns to gold, and perhaps he'll beholding the Golden Ball before long./.
VNA
