Speaking after the 1-1 draw with SHB Da Nang at the Chi Lang Stadium on 21 January, Ha Noi T&T’s coach Phan Thanh Hung commented that he was deeply impressed by the local fans’ love for SHB DN.  Although SHB DN had at that stage lost their first 3 matches of the V-league season, their home matches had attracted good crowds.  This had given encouragement to the local team to help them try harder to improve their results in the future.

SHB DN’s Ho Ngoc Thang (18)

The main reason for this good home support seems to be that SHB DN has always tried to preserve its own local identity.  Top priority has been given to providing a training programme for domestic players of different ages instead of recruiting already established domestic and foreign players.  Talented domestic players from the club’s programme include Hai Lam, Van Hoc, Huy Toan, Phuoc Vinh, Hoang Quang, Nguyen Sa, Hung Son, Ngoc Thang, Minh Tam and Ychaly Eban. 

In contrast, most of Ha Noi T&T’s players are not Hanoians and local fans feel that the team is not therefore representative of the capital city.