Captain of Sanest Khanh Hoa volleyball team

In the age of 34, Ngo Van Kieu, captain of Sanest Khanh Hoa volleyball team, still wants to continue playing and devoting for Sanest Khanh Hoa in particular and Khanh Hoa’s volleyball in general.

 

Ngo Van Kieu was born in a Ha Nam in a farming family. He moved to Nha Trang with his older brother when he was 16. He was introduced to the coach of the volleyball team of Khanh Hoa Post but was denied due to not being tall enough. After two years working at a rattan company, Kieu who was over 1,9m tall at that time, took part in the test and was enrolled in the amateur team. Since then, Ngo Van Kieu has been associated with indoor volleyball and after that has become one of the stars of Vietnam’s volleyball.

 

After eight months of hard training and practicing, Ngo Van Kieu became one of the key players of Khanh Hoa Post Office volleyball team in A1 tournament (below the national volleyball championship). In 2005, Kieu was the first A1 player to be called for the national team. However, he missed the opportunity due to some reasons from his local team. 

 

Kieu officially played for Vietnam national volleyball team since 2007. He played an important role in the remarkable victory of Vietnam over Thailand in the semi-final, helping Vietnam male volleyball team to advance to the final game of SEA Games for the first time ever. 

 

 

The career of Ngo Van Kieu has been closely associated with Sanest Khanh Hoa. One year after being promoted to the professional tournament, Ngo Van Kieu and other players of Sanest Khanh Hoa made an epic journey at the 2018 national volleyball championship. They won 13 consecutive games and finally stepped on the highest podium. “The year 2018 has been the most memorable hallmark in my professional career,” shared Ngo Van Kieu.

 

Ten years since the first national championship, Sanest Khanh Hoa captained by Ngo Van Kieu has gained many achievements in the national playgrounds. Kieu is among a few volleyball athletes in Vietnam winning all kinds of trophies at the domestic tournaments.

 

The injuries made a significant impact on the professional career of Kieu both in the national team and local team. He suffered a knee ligament injury in early 2011 and a serious abdominal injury during the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship in July 2011. After taking part in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, Kieu’s abdominal injury became more serious and he went to Singapore to undergo surgery in 2012. After the surgery, although could not perform with the best physical condition, Kieu has still played with full of energy and high determination.

 

Ngo Van Kieu has also considered as a spiritual leader of Sanest Khanh Hoa. Throughout the time captaining the team, Kieu has always performed well the role of a leader. He has often boosted the team’s spirit when the team is facing difficulties or the morale of the team is low. For example, in the final of the 2017 National Championship fighting against strong opponent The Cong, Sanest Khanh Hoa were undergoing a hard time when they lost two consecutive sets after winning the first set. Ngo Van Kieu as a team captain, showed his positive competitive spirit, efforts, and outstanding skills, which inspired his teammates. Finally, Sanest Khanh Hoa won the last two sets, overcoming The Cong by the score of 3-2 to achieve their second national championship title.

 

“My achievements are thanks to the supports from the management committee, coaching committee, teammates, and supporters. I want to continue playing and devoting myself to the Sanest Khanh Hoa,” said Ngo Van Kieu. 

 

An Nhien

Translated by H.N