Foreign soldiers HAGL postponed returning home, returning to visit teammates
On August 12, HAGL ended the 2023 season and let all members leave the camp. Brandao flew from Vinh to connect to Ho Chi Minh City, transited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before flying home to Brazil. While at Kuala Lumpur airport, he received news that his assistant Duong Minh Ninh, striker Paollo Oliveira and doctor Dao Trong Tri had died in a traffic accident.
Brandao immediately postponed the plan to return home, changed tickets to fly back from Kuala Lumpur back to Pleiku. Last night, August 14, the player born in 1990 could not be present, not in time to visit doctor Dao Trong Tri - who was buried in the afternoon of the same day. Brandao is heartbroken when Dr. Tri is about to get married at the end of this year. "I was going to buy him a wedding gift when I returned to Brazil, but now I can't," the foreign soldier said.
After that, Brandao went to his assistant Duong Minh Ninh's house to burn incense, then went to HAGL University of Medicine and Pharmacy - where Paollo Oliveira's body was kept. At this time, the Brazilian striker could no longer hold back his emotions, and burst into tears.
Brandao is also a Brazilian compatriot, over the age of six should consider Oliveira like a younger brother. He joined HAGL from 2021, so he is an integration support for Oliveira - who just arrived at the beginning of this season. "I've spent more time with Oliveira than my immediate family this year," Brandao said. "We shared many things, from joys and sorrows to dreams."
In Brandao's mind, Oliveira was sometimes short-tempered but generous and did not hesitate to help anyone, under any circumstances. "Playing football is fun for Oliveira," Brandao said. "I don't know how to describe it when I know we don't laugh together anymore."
When parting at Vinh airport, the last words the two said to each other were to spend the most time with their families, before HAGL reunited in September to prepare for the new season. Now, Brandao only prays for his brother's body to be brought back to Portugal soon to be with his biological relatives.
Tomorrow, August 16, Brandao will attend the funeral of assistant Duong Minh Ninh and then leave Pleiku to return home to Brazil. "This is one of the worst times of my life," Brandao said. "This loss will stick with me and HAGL Club for a long time."
