On the afternoon of 2/3, thousands of residents flocked to Dong Que Stadium in Bac Lung commune to watch the final match between Noi Chua FC and Ha Anh City. Spectators packed the sidelines, with many climbing walls and trees for a clear view.

The tournament's appeal caused accommodations around the stadium to be fully booked. On online platforms, the live stream of the match attracted over 50,000 viewers.

Duong Van Ngoc, a member of the organizing committee, stated that the Noi Dong village football tournament has a tradition spanning over 20 years. This season saw a surge in spectators due to the participation of foreign players. 10 of the 15 participating teams (from Bac Giang, Phu Tho, Hanoi) featured foreign players from Ivory Coast, Brazil, Nigeria, among others. These players are seeking opportunities to compete in Vietnam's professional football leagues.

Noi Chua players train in preparation for the Noi Dong Village Festival tournament. Photo: Nguyen Van Hai

In the final match, host team Noi Chua fielded a lineup with eight foreign players, while opponents Ha Anh City also added one more foreign player to boost their strength. Duong Quan, a representative for Noi Chua, stated they had recruited 16 foreign players. Funding for their recruitment was mobilized through voluntary contributions from villagers.

"Foreign players have a superior advantage in physical fitness and stride, helping maintain endurance when the schedule includes two matches a day," Quan said. To ensure cohesion, the team had players train together three months prior. Notably, one foreign player has competed for Noi Chua for eight village festival seasons and can communicate in basic Vietnamese to convey tactics to teammates.

The presence of foreign players sparked lively debates on the field. Nguyen Van Thanh, 32 years old, a resident of Bac Lung commune, felt the atmosphere was as vibrant as the V-League. "Foreign players make the matches more dramatic and professional, spreading the reputation of our village festival further," he stated.

However, many people expressed regret. Some argued that an over-reliance on foreign players could diminish the core meaning of the village festival, which traditionally serves as a playground for local youth to interact and strengthen community bonds.

In response to these concerns, a Noi Chua team representative affirmed that the main goal is to promote the local image and provide residents with a higher quality football tournament.

Spectators pack the Noi Dong Bac Giang village festival football tournament, 3/2. Photo: Nguyen Van Hai

From the perspective of the foreign players, the village festival football tournament is not just a source of livelihood but also fosters emotional connections. Madaki Peter Simon Prince, 29 years old, from Nigeria and captain of Noi Chua, was impressed by the fervent enthusiasm of the spectators. "The people here are very friendly and hospitable. They are always welcoming when they meet foreigners like me," said the player wearing jersey number 17.

Despite it being a village tournament, he praised the team spirit, technique, and endurance of the local players. The village patrons are generous and knowledgeable about football. "These wonderful experiences make me want to come back and play here many more times," Simon Prince said.

Despite spending heavily investing in a strong contingent of foreign players, Noi Chua FC still settled for the runner-up position in the final, losing to Ha Anh City with a score of 1-2.

The vibrant atmosphere of the Noi Dong village festival final, evening of 2/3. Video: Nguyen Van Hai

Pham Nga