Members of the Vietnam national under-19 football squad have left a profound impression on local fans following their inspired performances in recent games. Behind them is Doan Nguyen Duc, who recently talked to Tuoi Tre about the importance of education in football.

One of Vietnam’s richest tycoons, the 52-year-old Duc spent US$4 million on founding an Arsenal-supported football academy in 2007.

He then sent scouts across the country to find gifted kids to train at his Hoang Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG Academy, located in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The national under-19 team, which is made up of these kids plus some from other local clubs, has played well on several occasions, including the qualifying round of the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship in October last year when they secured crushing wins over Taiwan, Hong Kong, and archrivals Australia.

Most recently, they excited spectators nationwide as the footballers competed well in friendly matches against under-19 players from Japan, the British club Tottenham Hotspur, and Italian side AS Roma.  

Most local fans expressed satisfaction, even though the team lost all three games.

It is said that you are sending your U-19 footballers abroad for training, is this true?

Doan Nguyen Duc: Yes. Honestly speaking, it is not a very good choice as Vietnamese audiences will not be able to watch their training games. However, I would not let them train by playing in the V-League, as it is not a good environment for football. (Duc is referring to Vietnam’s top-flight league, believed to be plagued by alleged fixing, dishonest refereeing, and violence.)

Is it also true that you want to create a good educational environment at HAGL –Arsenal JMG Academy?

Doan Nguyen Duc: Absolutely. I have heard rumors that young footballers at many local training centers were allowed access and exposure to what is not really good for them. There have been consequences in the wake of such a training method. So I want HAGL–Arsenal JMG Academy to be a proper educational environment where young players are educated on everything. For example, you would never hear them use any swear words.

But you often say bad words…

Doan Nguyen Duc: (Laughs) Yes. This is my bad habit. I have already told them not to learn this from me.

You have placed an emphasis on an educational environment while training young players. What else?

Doan Nguyen Duc: It is the people who are responsible for coaching them. When I first worked with English Premier League giants Arsenal on the establishment of the academy, they emphasized the importance of education, as well as the role of the first coach. I could not agree more.

Are you going to talk about your academy’s, and the national under-19 team’s, French coach, Guillaume Graechen?

Doan Nguyen Duc: Yes. He is awesome. A qualified coach must be good at training and love the children. My academy does not focus on the ability to play football when choosing a coach. In France, Guillaume was not a famous footballer. However, he is qualified enough to be the first coach at HAGL – Arsenal JMG Academy.

Let me tell you a story: There were some applicants who failed to be admitted to my academy when we were recruiting seven years ago. However, I still selected them and formed a second team, which was trained by several young coaches. After a short time, the team under the guidance of Guillaume was much better, even though the young coaches used the same methodology as their French colleague.

A wealthy Thai man used to run a similar football academy but it has been disbanded. What do you think of this?

Doan Nguyen Duc: Honestly, it is not easy at all to run such a training facility. We have spent a lot of money, but we have yet to reap any real fruits. In the beginning, when those young footballers started training, we faced many difficulties and challenges. Yet they are now able to play better. I have heard about the disbandment of Thailand’s football academy. I think it was due to a lack of money. And patience.