For the first time competing in the Vietnamese national volleyball championship, Chinese player Xue Zhihong brought with him many expectations, but also faced initial challenges.
Talking to Lao Dong, the Chinese main attacker shared: "I am very happy and excited to be here. This is the first time I have played in a foreign tournament as a foreign player. The team is very young, energetic and I integrated quite well. My teammates have supported me a lot.
The rapid integration partly helped Xue Zhihong make his mark in The Cong Tan Cang's playing style. However, weather factors are still a major obstacle for this player.
Due to climate conditions, I cannot reach my best physical condition yet. But I will try to use all my energy to help the team in every match," he said.
In the context that teams at this year's tournament are all well prepared, the appearance of foreign players is expected to make a difference.
With The Cong Tan Cang, Xue Zhihong not only plays a scoring role but is also expected to strengthen in both attack and defense. However, this player himself is also clearly aware that, to maximize his ability, the collective coordination factor plays a key role.
One of the things I need to improve is the connection with the setter. In addition, I also have to strengthen communication with my teammates in blocking and defending. When there is harmony, the whole team will operate better," he said.
Assessing the professional quality of the tournament, Xue Zhihong expressed his impression of the playing style of Vietnamese teams, especially the defensive ability.
The athletes here have a very good defense system. Although not too superior in physique, they play very solidly and resiliently. That makes the matches more difficult," Zhihong said.
Regarding personal goals at the Vietnamese volleyball tournament, the foreign player of The Cong Tan Cang does not put much emphasis on specific achievements but aims for stability in playing style and fighting spirit.
Xue Zhihong said: "I hope the whole team always maintains a high fighting spirit. No matter what the result, we want to perform our best in each match. When playing to our full potential, positive results will come.
The appearance of Xue Zhihong also brings positive signals in terms of image for the military team, in the context that the tournament is increasingly attracting the attention of fans. The Chinese player himself also felt the enthusiastic atmosphere and cheers from Vietnamese fans in recent matches.
I heard a lot of support from fans, which makes me very happy. I am really happy to play in Vietnam. I will try my best and fight with the whole team. I hope everyone will continue to support The Cong Tan Cang in the coming time," he expressed.
With a receptive spirit and adaptive efforts, Xue Zhihong is gradually integrating into the general playing style of The Cong Tan Cang. In the remainder of the season, the performance of this foreign player will continue to be an important factor, contributing to determining the competitiveness of the army team.
