Pham Tuan Hai has firmly denied ever criticizing the Thai League, dismissing recent media reports from Thailand as completely fabricated. In an interview with VTC News, Tuan Hai stated, “I certainly would never speak ill of a league with good professional quality like the Thai League. Every league has its own challenges and difficulties.” For young readers, “speak ill” means to say something bad about someone or something, and “challenges” are problems or tasks that need effort to overcome.
Just days ago, the well-known Thai news outlet Khaosod published a report that quoted Tuan Hai as saying, “Thai League does not help me improve. If I get the chance to play abroad, I will do my best. I am not interested in the ASEAN tournament, especially the Thai League. To improve my speed, I have to reach higher.” However, Tuan Hai, who was born in 1998 and plays as a striker for Hanoi FC, expressed his alarm upon reading this report. He explained that he had carefully reviewed all his previous interviews and found no record of such statements. In his view, the Khaosod article could create unnecessary controversy between the football communities of Vietnam and Thailand.
For primary school students, being a “striker” means being a player whose main job is to score goals, and “improve” means to get better at something. Tuan Hai’s words make it clear that he has deep respect for the Thai League, a competition known for its high level of professional football. He acknowledged that every league, no matter how good, has its own set of challenges. This balanced perspective shows that while athletes may wish to test themselves in different environments, they also appreciate the quality and competitiveness of leagues like the Thai League.
The controversy did not end there. In the comment section of the Khaosod article, many Thai fans expressed their discontent with the reported remarks, arguing that no Vietnamese player had truly succeeded overseas yet and that no Thai club would want to sign Tuan Hai based on such comments. This backlash from the Thai public further supported Tuan Hai’s insistence that the quoted statements were not his own.
Notably, Tuan Hai’s performance in recent tournaments has been remarkable. In the AFF Cup 2024 final, he made a significant impact by scoring the opening goal on the Rajamangala Stadium pitch, and later he played a crucial role by taking a shot that inadvertently resulted in an own goal by Pansa Hemviboon in the second half. Interestingly, despite these impressive contributions, the AFF Cup 2024 marked the only time Tuan Hai started a match during the tournament. His shining performance in that game helped solidify his reputation as one of the most promising talents in Vietnamese football.
Through his clear statements, Tuan Hai has not only defended his reputation but also upheld the respect for the Thai League, emphasizing that every competition holds value and challenges that contribute to a player’s growth and success.
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