Ho Van Loi, nicknamed "Tieu gia", is one of the symbols of the Saigon Port team in the golden period of Ho Chi Minh City football. Although only about 1m60 tall, he stands out with his fast play, handling skills and effective finishing ability. Joining the team since the early 1990s, Ho Van Loi has contributed greatly to the national championship titles in 1993-1994, 1997, 2001-2002 and won the National Cup twice in 1992 and 2000.
The peak of his career came in the 2002 season, when he scored 9 goals to become the V.League Top Scorer - the first domestic player to achieve this achievement in the professional era. It was not until 15 years later, in 2017, that another Vietnamese player (Anh Duc) did the same thing.
Although he has been called up to the national team many times under coaches Murphy, Riedl and Calisto, Ho Van Loi has not had the opportunity to play in official tournaments. However, he is still remembered by fans as one of the loyal, dedicated players and has been associated with Saigon Port for the entire career - a team with a rich tradition in Vietnamese football.
In his final years, Ho Van Loi still regularly participated in grassroots football activities, participated in the Ho Chi Minh City former football team and coached young players. Despite his illness, he still maintained practice, even playing friendly matches before his illness became serious.
Former football player Nguyen Hong Pham shared: Van Loi Lake is an indispensable part of the history of Saigon Port football. He lived his profession, devoted himself and was full of enthusiasm until the last days.
The passing of Ho Van Loi left deep regret in the hearts of fans and teammates - those who witnessed his fiery playing style and strong love for football.
