Soccer youngsters look to boost sport in China
It’s 7:30 pm in Lisbon and Liu Yiming has slipped into his sports apparel and headed off for routine soccer training.
“The schedule is totally different from that in China, where we receive trainings both in the morning and afternoon,” said the 17-year-old Liaoning Province native. “Here, all teenager players practice in the evening after school.”
About half an hour later, the 1.85m-tall Chinese soccer player has begun to warm-up with his Portuguese teammates at their suburban training center while the city is enshrouded in a winter chill.
Liu is one of the 41 soccer players aged between 16 and 19 from China’s different clubs. They arrived in the South European country in mid-December for a two-year training program initiated by the Chinese Football Association (CFA).
" The program aims to help them learn advanced football techniques, culture and conception from Europe and improve Chinese players’ international competitiveness as a whole as soon as possible," said Sun Zhedong, director of the youth and social department of the CFA.
He told the Global Times that this is an important approach for improving China’s cultivation system of reserve talent as well.
However, whether the ambitious move will pay off remains to be seen given that similar attempts in the past have failed to extricate Chinese soccer, which is currently in the middle of massive anti-corruption campaign.
A gap emerges
In spite of their limited experience following their arrival in Portugal, which has occupied a noticeable place on the world stage with big names including Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo having trained here, both coaches and these “future stars” have been fully aware of the gap between them and their foreign counterparts.
“I think our individual abilities are outclassed especially the physical quality,” said Liu, who is training with Casa Pia AC Under 19. “I am the one who would be knocked over during a fierce confrontation.”
He added that coaches here stress players’ individual capabilities more, while in China teamwork is highlighted.
Guan Hao, who trains with Alverca Club in Lisbon, added that they commonly lag behind in terms of bursting through with the ball. He attributed these defects to the training methods of previous coaches.
Chang Weiwei, a Chinese coach who came to Portugal for training coordination and daily management of the players, highlighted the disparity on the two sides’ abilities in matches.
“They are better aware of how to manage and win a game, in simple terms, they have stronger conception,” said Chang, admitting that the training here is more effective. “They just practice what is useful for matches.”
“I like the players from China very much. They have good technique but their tactics still need improving,” said Nuno Brites, the Portuguese coach for the club that Liu trains with. “The disparity also consists of an understanding of winning games.”
Another attempt abroad
This is not the first time that Chinese football authorities have sent players abroad for the revival of Chinese soccer.
In 1993, in collaboration with Guangdong-based Jianlibao Group, 22 well-selected young footballers flew to the “football kingdom”, Brazil, for a five-year training program. Another six were supplemented in 1996.
Saddled with hopes of glorifying the country by presenting exciting performances in following Olympic Games and the World Cup, these talents failed to be successful. Some critics even said they performed no better than players who were trained at home.
“It’s unfair to describe this endeavor as a failure,” said Chang, who was one of the players sent to Brazil. “It’s an exploration worth encouragement. Over 10 of us were selected to the national team, and players like Li Tie and Li Weifeng were undeniably successful later.”
Chang admitted there were indeed some aspects worth improving, for example, the training site was not satisfactory and matches with local teams were not of a high-standard as expected.
“More importantly, all the Chinese players stayed together and could not acquire their football essence,” Chang said, adding that he was pleased that the new arrivals can join the local clubs for training and matches.
“The growth of a good player depends on several factors - a capable coach, a good environment and a high-level league, and all these aspects are covered this time,” said Sun, noting that the players will be integrated into the training, culture and conception of local clubs.
Currently, 41 players are scattered across eight Portuguese clubs, and four in Lisbon. According to Chinese coaches, at least four registered players have participated in the league on behalf of the clubs they trained with and one has scored.
Youth training system
Sun revealed that the Portugal program is part of their long-term plan, which intends to send 100 teenage players abroad each year for five consecutive years to cultivate a batch of outstanding players to enhance the level of Chinese soccer.
“Our main ‘battlefield’ is still in China,” said Sun, “We are still introducing some excellent coaches from abroad, which is a parallel way for the establishment of youth reserves talent.”
There have in fact already been several Portuguese coaches in charge of Chinese clubs.
Though their lives abroad have just started, some of the young guys have mapped out a blueprint for their future.
“I hope I have an opportunity to stay in Europe and to learn more when the program concludes in two years,” said Liu Yiming, expressing his appreciation of the soccer culture in this country.
“You can easily find people on their way to play soccer when you walk on the streets and soccer is always on television,” said Liu.
“I hope can share what they have learned here when they go back to China, both the students who excel, and those who don’t,” said the Portuguese coach, hoping that Chinese soccer will one day produce a superstar as large as basketball great Yao Ming.
