Vietnamese-American guy "burns" himself out with rugby

Vietnamese-American player Jayden Nguyen. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, one day when Jayden was 9 years old, he came home and begged his father, Duc Nguyen, to let him play rugby with his friends. Before that, Duc Nguyen only thought his son liked football. Two weeks after his son's request, Duc Nguyen showed up at Point Cook Sharks - a rugby club based in the suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - to register Jayden.

SBS reports that Jayden’s passion for rugby grew, to the point where he often skipped school to play with his friends. After his family moved, Jayden joined Avondale Heights, also in Victoria, and soon after, he made the Essendon District and Vic Metro teams at the U16 and U18 levels – a stepping stone to a professional career.

This year, 19 years old, Jayden made history when he became the first Vietnamese player to play in the AFL for Essendon on August 2. Jayden still clearly remembers the moment when his club informed him that he would play in the match against the Sydney Swans. “My dad was downstairs and when he heard the news, he shouted and ran to hug me tightly. The whole family gathered to congratulate him, it was an unforgettable feeling,” Jayden shared. And on Jayden’s big day, the whole family was present at the Sydney Cricket Ground to cheer for the young Vietnamese player.

Jayden’s parents emigrated to Australia in 1986. Mr. Duc Nguyen did not know much about AFL, but with the love of a father, he always supported his son’s hobby. When he heard that his son was about to make his debut in AFL, Mr. Duc Nguyen could only choke up: “His dream has come true”.

That dream was fueled by Jayden’s burning passion for football since he was a child. “He slept with the ball. He would just hug the ball and sleep. He used to play football indoors. The ceiling was full of ball marks,” said Duc Nguyen.

Meanwhile, hard work and dedication are the words that coaches use to describe the young Vietnamese player. Playing as a defender, Jayden's speed and ability to compete have impressed the Essendon coaching staff.

“My family is very happy that I have this opportunity. This has been my dream since I was 9 years old. My parents have sacrificed a lot. I just want to make them happy,” Jayden said. The Vietnamese-born player did not hide his happiness when receiving many congratulatory messages from friends, relatives and the Vietnamese community in Australia. That helps Jayden feel more confident when he goes out on the field because he knows that there are always many people behind him supporting him.

Looking back on his journey from being an outcast because there were few Asian kids playing rugby in his local area, to being welcomed by the team, Jayden only hopes that more young Vietnamese and Asian kids will join AFL. “I just want to inspire Vietnamese kids, Asian kids and the community to see that if you have passion and a dream, you can do it,” Jayden confided.

AFL may not be familiar to many Vietnamese people in Australia at present, but the appearance of the first young Vietnamese player in the league has brought pride and hope for change in the future.

MINH CHAU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chang-trai-goc-viet-chay-het-minh-voi-bong-bau-duc-post811028.html