VietNamNet Bridge – He has traveled to Vietnam several times in the last 12 years with his family but until 2012, the relations between Zoedonne, a former member of the Australian national rowing team, and the Vietnamese rowing squad began.

Mr. Zoedonne.
During his tour to Vietnam last April, Zoedonne stayed at a hotel on the bank of Hanoi’s West Lake. He accidentally saw some Vietnamese rowers practiced on the lake. As a former rowing star in Australia (ranking 5th at the Australia Rowing Championship in the 1980s) and now the manager of a rowing club of university in New South Wale, he voluntarily offered assistance to the national rowing team.

Though Zoedonne does not have a coaching certificate, his experience is valuable. After several days practicing with him, Vietnamese rowers made obvious progress.

After that trip, he has still kept contact with Nguyen Van Thang, chairman of the Hanoi Rowing Club and the chief coach of the Vietnamese national rowing team Pham Thi Ngoc Lan.

Zoedonne compiled lessons that focus on basic techniques and skills that were the weak points of Vietnamese athletes. His sincere and voluntary assistance is very important for the national rowing team. Zoedonne has become a true friend of Vietnamese rowers.

Besides emailing lessons, he returned to Hanoi twice (with part of travel and accommodation expenses covered by Hanoi) to coach Vietnamese rowers before the 16th Asian Games. Vietnamese female rowers won two silver medals at the games.

According to Vietnamese rowers, during the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Zoedonne called them everyday to get information about each rower. He was happy like a kid when he was informed of the two silver medals of Vietnam.

Members of the Vietnamese national rowing team
In May 2011, Zoedonne raised around $12,000 from his friends in Australia to organize a 42-day training course in Australia for seven Vietnamese rowers. To save money, he hired a car and drove the team to the training place everyday. He also helped the team to participate in a rowing competition in Australia.

He returned to Vietnam in June 2011. He says he will continue returning to Vietnam. “All for my love with Vietnam,” he says.

“I love Vietnam and I like working with Mr. Thang and Mrs. Lan. They are enthusiastic people,” Zoedonne says.

He believes that Vietnam can win three seats for rowing at the London 2012 Olympics.

He says that to make further progress, Vietnamese rowers must be equipped with modern boats and oars. He also emphasizes the unity as the key factor for the rowing team’s victory.

PV