Football-enthusiastic Nam Định is set for an intense friendly match against India.
Nam Định [Vietnam], October 8: Nam Định is a charming town located in northern Vietnam. With a population of just over 236,000, it lacks its own airport, so after arriving in the capital city of Hanoi, the Indian senior men's team traveled 100 kilometers by bus through the picturesque rural landscapes of the Red River Delta to reach their hotel early Monday morning.
On October 12, the Blue Tigers are set to play a friendly match against Vietnam in Nam Định, a city rich in history and culture, known for its beautiful religious architecture, including various churches, cathedrals, and temples. The town is celebrated for its lush green scenery and delicious Vietnamese cuisine. However, head coach Manolo Marquez, on his first visit to Southeast Asia, is primarily focused on the match on October 12.
"I like the place. However, when you play these kinds of games, you are not on holiday; you don't have too much time. We're busy preparing the sessions, checking how the opponent is, and especially how our team is at this moment. All we are here for is to try and win on the 12th," said the Spaniard as reported by the official AIFF website.
Nam Định is as passionate about football as Marquez is. The city is home to Thep Xanh Nam Định FC, the reigning champions of V.League 1 for the 2023-24 season. This small-town club ended a six-year dominance by Hanoi-based clubs—Hanoi FC, The Cong-Viettel FC, and Cong An Hanoi FC—while playing in front of their fervent home supporters at Thien Truong Stadium, which boasted the highest average attendance in the league last season, with over 13,000 fans per game.
The locals are equally devoted to the Vietnam national team. The hosts secured victories over Syria (1-0) and Palestine (2-0) in friendly matches last year at the same stadium, supported by their enthusiastic fans. Thien Truong, which translates to Heaven's Place Stadium, has been a challenging venue for visiting teams in recent times.
India, however, has cherished memories in Vietnam. In 2002, they staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat the hosts 3-2 and clinch the LG Cup, a U23 tournament held in Ho Chi Minh City. Bhaichung Bhutia (2) and Abhishek Yadav scored for the victorious Indian side, which also included current assistant coach Mahesh Gawali.
Yet, that was a long time ago. Much has changed since then. Now, under Manolo Marquez’s leadership, the senior team aims for its first victory of the year. The Blue Tigers held their first training session in Vietnam on Monday evening at the Nam Định Sports Palace Ground and will have four more full practices before facing the hosts on Saturday.