The Desire of Ho Tung Han
Unlike most players of his age, Ho Tung Han did not gather with his family during the Lunar New Year 2025. The first days of spring were also the time when he devoted himself to training on the field and in the gym in Singapore. Balestier Khalsa Club - where he signed a 6-month contract from Da Nang team - still competes in the national championship as well as the U21 tournament system.
He maintains cycling to the bus stop, moves to the practice point, after finishing practice, goes home to practice more, then cooks, studies foreign languages...
“I feel a little sad that I can’t go home to celebrate Tet with my parents and relatives. But I hope this trade-off is worth it. Going to Singapore to play football, even if it’s a half-year contract, is a good opportunity for me to grow up,” Ho Tung Han confided.
The young goalkeeper added: “I look forward to playing football abroad every day. An opportunity, a stroke of luck in my career, that is the feeling that always comes to me before the day of departure.”
Tung Han has now spent more than 2 months in Singapore. Each training session is a time for him to learn new lessons. “The goalkeeper coach often instructs me after each training session. He teaches me how to observe and move my teammates to coordinate smoothly. He also requires me to think more, to ask myself what I need to do before receiving the ball. I am very happy when the coach praises me for my talent in commanding the defense and being able to pass the ball well with my feet,” Ho Tung Han confided.
The goalkeeper born in 2003 has played 2 matches for Balestier Khalsa club, including 1 friendly match and 1 match for the U21 team. With the professional league system in Singapore lasting from 24-30 matches, the opportunity for Tung Han to play in the starting lineup in Balestier Khalsa's official matches is possible.
Fun experience
In addition to training on the football field, Tung Han has had new experiences about independent living in Singapore. Unlike in Vietnam - where he lives in a football team, the 22-year-old goalkeeper has to get used to moving by bicycle, public transport and choosing a good diet for himself.
“In Singapore, everything is arranged and taken care of by the players themselves. I think that is the way for me to become more mature and independent. My new day in Singapore starts at 6:45. An hour later, I and some teammates ride bicycles to the subway station. If it rains, we will travel by bus. In the afternoon, I will do yoga or go to the gym. Before leaving, I will plug in the rice cooker. When I return, I and some friends living in the same apartment will cook. At the end of the day, I study English, call my family or play games, entertain myself” - Tung Han shared.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper said that he has gradually adapted to the standard nutritional regimen of an athlete. Initially, when he first came to Singapore, Tung Han ate according to his personal preferences, which led to a lack of training intensity.
“I started to observe more from my teammates. They ate moderately. I gradually changed my diet, limiting fatty foods. For example, for my usual evening meal, I ate 1 and a half bowls of rice, 2 boiled eggs, 1 small piece of salmon, 1 piece of beef, 1 plate of salad and 1 small bowl of soup,” said the goalkeeper.
Finally, going to Singapore to play football also comes from Tung Han's great motivation. That is to be on the list of U22 Vietnam competing at SEA Games 33.
