SHB FC, the women’s football team that is just over a year old, has claimed its second championship in 2024 at the Queen League S1, following their triumph in the Hanoi Banking Sector Spring Cup. The men’s team, SHB FC, also finished in the TOP 5 of the HPL S11 – a professional tournament for 7-a-side football. The success of both teams stems from disciplined, professional, and united training, all while donning the same colors with pride.
SHB FC and numerous internal teams across SHB’s branches in various provinces are “nurtured” within an organization that adores football and cherishes the values this sport embodies. The staff and players not only have a passion for football flowing through their veins but are also deeply immersed in the culture of the bank – a spirit of unity, determination, professionalism, and sustainable development. It is a place where individuals are conscious of preserving and fostering the organization’s culture, allowing small actions to emanate significant values.
On a sweltering midweek afternoon in Hanoi, at the Hoang Mai District Sports Center stadium, the head coach observed more than 20 SHB FC players lined up before him, pondering for a few moments before slowly speaking:
“Today, we embark on an important training session. I appreciate everyone’s dedication in arranging their time. We all have our personal lives and circumstances, but a well-disciplined team means having discipline, and each of us sacrifices a portion of our personal time to contribute to the collective.”
Following light exercises, SHB FC split into two groups and practiced on half of the 7-a-side pitch, focusing on a particular drill that constricted space and forced players to constantly move and think on their feet. “Many professional players can’t keep up with the pace of 7-a-side football,” said Le Trong Thuy, the technical director, pointing to the pitch. “Many players who are unaccustomed to this format will quickly become exhausted because the ball is constantly in play, and there are no breaks like in 11-a-side football.”
Spectators and supporters of the men’s team, SHB FC, need only watch a few minutes to grasp their style: no prolonged ball possession, a preference for quick, short passes, low-driven balls, and constant high-intensity movement to create space – a style reminiscent of “tiki-taka.”
Maintaining this style consistently is no easy feat: it challenges the selflessness of each player and demands that they always prioritize the team in their decision-making.
“The identity of SHB FC is built on teamwork and the pursuit of nobility in sports. When selecting players, we prioritize attitude. We choose those with good character, coupled with strong football skills. You can improve your skills, but it’s almost impossible to change your innate nature. So, we opt for the latter first,” emphasized Mr. Thuy.
Mr. Thuy was the first captain of the SHB recreational team, the precursor to SHB FC, which now competes in the HPL, the highest level of amateur football in the country.
Recalling over a decade ago, Mr. Thuy reminisced about the moment when Mr. Nguyen Huy Tai, now the Chairman of SHB FC and Vice President of SHB, guided his career path and later, their joint endeavor to build SHB’s football team from its infancy.
“Back when I played for The Cong, life as a young player wasn’t easy. If I couldn’t compete for a spot on the first team, I wouldn’t have many other options,” shared Mr. Thuy.
At that time, The Cong’s first team boasted numerous established stars such as Hong Son, Viet Hoang, and Quoc Trung, all in their prime. Young players like Mr. Thuy had scarce opportunities to play and could hardly dream of representing the National Team. So, Mr. Thuy left the club and pursued his studies.
Looking back, that decision proved to be a turning point in his life. After graduating and securing a position at SHB, Mr. Thuy was approached by Mr. Tai about establishing a recreational team with a core group of players.
“In the early days, I served as both the captain and coach of the SHB recreational team, directing the team on the pitch. Additionally, I handled logistics, so to speak, ‘carrying water and peeling oranges.’ I was also responsible for scouting and recruiting players. Whenever I noticed talented players within the bank, I’d invite them to train with us. Initially, we rented a pitch and trained twice a week, dividing into two groups when we had a large turnout. We’d also scrimmage against other teams. During these scrimmages, I’d observe and further filter the players to select the core members of our team.”
Mr. Thuy reminisced about the highly competitive entrance exam he took to join the bank: “I still remember the exam I took at the Viet Duc test center; the competition was intense, with a ratio of 1:50, meaning 500 applicants for only 10 available spots, similar to the university entrance exam.”
From the very beginning, SHB’s players were meticulously screened in various aspects, as the bank’s leadership emphasized the primacy of professionalism and moral character. They sought to build a team of dedicated, hardworking, and amicable individuals.
A team united by shared passions, enthusiasm, aspirations, and culture is what Mr. Nguyen Huy Tai, Chairman of SHB FC, has consistently fostered from the outset. This stems from the overarching culture of SHB – a foundation established by Mr. Do Quang Hien, Chairman of the Board of Directors, over the past 30 years.
“Developing people” is a guiding principle rooted in one of SHB’s four pillars – “Placing people as the subject.” This philosophy is shared by both the bank and SHB FC. “We are not just a football team; we are also colleagues within an organization. Culture is what binds us together, and the team is more than just a sports club,” shared Mr. Nguyen Huy Tai. “For many years, it has been a place where we guide, nurture, and develop our people for a sustainable future.”
In Vietnam, the “phủi” football movement is widely beloved and attracts a large following. Consequently, numerous clubs have been established. With its distinct identity and the passion of its members, SHB FC has become one of the most prominent and notable teams in this landscape.
While Mr. Do Quang Hien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SHB, ignited the love for football and laid the foundation for the establishment of SHB FC, Mr. Nguyen Huy Tai, Vice President of SHB and Chairman of SHB FC, has united individuals into a formidable team.
“The team I’ve built has three pillars. First is culture, reflected in how we interact with our teammates, opponents, supporters, the football community, and tournament organizers. We refrain from using foul language, engaging in on-pitch altercations, or playing dirty. Externally, the team must propagate the enterprise’s culture, actively participate in charitable activities, and strive to contribute to society,” shared Mr. Tai.
“The second pillar is discipline. A strong team must have discipline. This means punctuality in training and adherence to tactics, positions, and roles on the pitch, as well as a serious attitude. For instance, only the captain is authorized to give instructions on the field. When too many people talk, chaos ensues.”
“The third pillar is professionalism, which entails teamwork, cohesion, competitive spirit, and mental fortitude,” concluded Mr. Tai.
On the map of recreational football, fueled by the love for the game flowing through the veins of SHB’s staff and players, coupled with discipline and quality, the SHB recreational team dominated various tournaments, from internal banking sector competitions to small and medium enterprise tournaments in Hanoi.
In 2013, SHB was invited to participate in the HPL for the first time, as they were recognized as one of the most skilled and renowned teams at the time. A year later, at the Ho Guom Cup, a long-standing and prestigious tournament in the banking sector, SHB FC claimed the championship after a thrilling 1-0 victory over FC Ngoi Sao in the final.
This victory sent shockwaves through the recreational football scene, as FC Ngoi Sao boasted a star-studded lineup of recently retired Vietnamese football legends, including Minh Hieu, Hong Son, Tuan Thanh, and Thach Bao Khanh. They were likened to a “galaxy of stars” in recreational football a decade ago.
SHB FC triumphed with a tactical approach and left a lasting impression with their style of play. “Tournament organizers often invite SHB to participate,” Mr. Tai proudly recounted. “We aim to foster a healthy football environment and ensure the tournament’s success. To achieve this, we strive for enthusiastic supporters, fair refereeing, and meticulous organization.”
Mr. Tai is a familiar figure in recreational football, particularly in the banking sector. Since 2001, he has been a member of the organizing committee for the Spring Cup, a tournament consistently organized by the State Bank of Vietnam’s Hanoi branch for over two decades. He is also a seasoned recreational player, humbly acknowledging that he “lacks technical skills but makes up for it with enthusiasm.”
However, this mild-mannered individual made a firm decision: SHB’s men’s football team would not participate in the HPL for the second time, following a negative experience in their inaugural season. “I felt that the matches were too intense, and some did not align with the spirit of sportsmanship that our team embodies,” Mr. Tai explained.
The final straw came during a match against a team from an electronics distribution company, which Mr. Tai witnessed firsthand. After a few physical encounters, SHB’s players were provoked and even clashed with their opponents.
“At that moment, I thought to myself that we were representing SHB, a bank with a distinct culture and values. However, in such an environment, if things escalated, it could tarnish the reputation that we’ve meticulously built over the years,” Mr. Tai recounted.
“Consequently, we opted out of the second season. For several years, I continued to observe the tournament, and it didn’t meet the standards and values our team aspired to uphold. After a few years, Mr. Do Quang Hien suggested that SHB reconsider participating in the HPL. Following a period of monitoring, we decided to rejoin last year, as the tournament had evolved into a more professional, disciplined, and enjoyable experience.”
As a long-time player who has experienced the full range of emotions on the pitch, Mr. Tai has always been preoccupied with a fundamental question: how can a team convey its spirit and values to the audience? How can the players internalize that they are ambassadors of certain values and strive to uphold them?
The challenge lies in striking a balance between maintaining a competitive spirit and ensuring that, regardless of the circumstances, SHB FC’s players never cross the line.
“Maintaining kindness is not easy, even in football; it’s like trying to mix water and fire,” Mr. Tai analyzed. “Football is a confrontational sport with a strong emphasis on winning, and it often involves cunning tactics. You may have good intentions, but in a moment of carelessness, you might lose yourself, and that single moment can define the team.”
“Kindness must be translated into action, because anyone can claim to be kind. Simply put, SHB FC players will not play dirty or seek revenge, even if they are on the receiving end of unsportsmanlike conduct,” Mr. Tai emphasized. “Instilling this attitude is challenging, and it’s not enough to merely talk about it, especially in the heat of the moment on the pitch. We must translate it into regulations and discipline, turning it into a habit, and consistently maintaining this habit will shape our attitude.”
