Over the past few years, Mr. Nguyen Hai Truong, residing in Khe My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, has opened a free volleyball club for the community, and built many volleyball courts to serve the needs of physical training and sports among local students citywide.

His action aims to inspire students to practice sports, improve their physical health and practice healthy habits.

Mr. Nguyen Hai Truong (right) has been trying to open more free volleyball classes for students for many years. Photo: P.N

Benefits to the community

A fun and challenging volleyball practice and competition atmosphere was recorded at the Ngu Hanh Son District-based Tran Dai Nghia Junior High School in early June.

Hosted by Mr. Truong, the volleyball tournament drew much attention from school pupils.

Nguyen Huu Trung, a 9^th grader at the Tran Dai Nghia Junior High School, said participating in Mr.Truong-organised volleyball class over the past two years, he has improved his playing technique. This was a useful playground for him to improve his physical wellness and satisfy his passion for volleyball.

The volleyball court at the Tran Dai Nghia Junior High School is built and put into operation by Mr. Truong for many years.

Mr. Truong is working for ADT (A Different tribe), a Belgian educational organisation. His desire is to build many volleyball courts and teach young people who are passionate about this kind of sports for free.

“I am passionate about sports, so I can play many kinds of sports such as football, volleyball and badminton. However, volleyball is my favourite sport. In 2018, during a volleyball competition at the Hoa Xuan Gymnasium based in Cam Le District, I noticed that many young people had a passion for volleyball but did not have a playground to develop their abilities. Of these, most of them are students who are studying at schools citywide. Therefore, I decide to open free volleyball classes in order to create opportunities for young people to have fun and practice" the man remarked.

Initially, Mr. Truong built the first volleyball court and taught volleyball for free at the Tran Dai Nghia Junior High School.

After a period of effective operation, with the support of many people, he continued to open volleyball courts at the Ly Tu Trong Junior High School based in Son Tra District, the FPT Hope School in Ngu Hanh Son District, and in Cam Le District’s Hoa Xuan Ward and Son Tra District’s Phuoc My Ward.

“All trainees are taught basic to advanced volleyball-related skills. Through volleyball class, many children avoid social evils. The classes are always lively and exciting to inspire the children to play this kind of sports” the man said.

Spreading volleyball movement

Aside from opening free volleyball classes, Mr. Truong has established a community volleyball club. The club operates 3 sessions/week, and anyone who are in need can join the club and learn volleyball.

In order for the club's activities to become professional, Mr. Truong chooses students who are enthusiastic and have good qualities to become instructors. There are currently 15 such volleyball "instructors", all of whom are students.

Currently, the club-hosted volleyball classes are attracting about 300 trainees. In which, most of them are free. In addition, the club sells clothes, shoes, and sports equipment to have more funding to expand its activities.

According to Truong, in order to promote the development of the volleyball movement, the Community Volleyball Club organises volleyball tournaments, attracting a large number of athletes.

Recently, the club has cooperated with the municipal Youth Federation and the city’s Students Union to organise a volleyball tournament for university and college students and armed forces. It has seen the participation of more than 400 athletes from 22 teams across the city.

“In the near future, more volleyball tournaments will be held citywide to create opportunities for athletes to exchange and develop professionally. In addition, the club continues to build courts and replicate free volleyball classes, especially bringing this kind of sports to young people in more difficult areas" Mr. Truong said.

Reporting by PHI NONG - Translating by M.DUNG