Vietnamese footballer donates SEA Games gold medal auction money to charity

By Minh Khang August 18, 2021 | 12:01 am PT

Nguyen Trong Hoang with his SEA Games gold medal in 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Defender Nguyen Trong Hoang has supported Covid-19 relief efforts in Vietnam by donating VND207 million ($9,000) he got from auctioning his SEA Games gold medal.

The money will be used to buy ventilators to support medical forces in Ho Chi Minh City battling Covid-19.

Hoang also auctioned a jersey with the signatures of all national football team members for VND16 million ($700), to be used to buy essentials for blind children in HCMC.

"I believe I made the right decision to give away the prestigious medal. I hope this act will radiate the same spirit that we had during SEA Games 30," Hoang said.

Hoang won the SEA Games gold in 2019. This medal means a lot to Hoang because he once failed to win one in the SEA Games 2009 final and finally succeeded 10 years later.

The right-back is training with the national team to prepare for the final qualìying round of 2022 World Cup. At 32, Hoang is still in great form. He is the number one choice of head coach Park Hang-seo on the right flank despite competition from younger players.