SPORTS

in the country’s history. In addition, the men’s team has also won the EAFF East Asian Cup twice, in 2005 and 2010. ’s women’s team has performed better during their appearances in the World Cup, making it to the quarterfinals several times. They have also done well in continental and regional competitions, such as placing third in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2018. Although it is widely acknowledged that China is not yet a football powerhouse, the enthusiasm from the Chinese people about the sport and improving its playing standards is massively underrated. Many lo- cal teams have garnered a huge following, and inter- national club’s teams have proved even more popular. Te World Cup, Euro Cup, and international friendly China’s national football team in train- matches, regardless of the time diference, are always ing in Changsha, live-streamed in bars, restaurants, and homes as Chi- Hunan Province. nese fans cheer for their favorite players. Te interest for the sport can undoubtedly be felt throughout the China’s country, and in time, will also be felt throughout the world. Football Dream Part of getting people interested in the sport at an early age can be evidenced by China’s very own Chi- nese Super League (CSL), launched in 2004, which By DEGEN HILL rebranded the country’s top-tier division, and has continued to gain popularity and credibility among HEN most people think of China, foot- local fans. Te current season of the CSL consists of ball isn’t the frst sport that they might 16 teams playing 240 games, with Ever- associate with the country traditionally grande Taobao as the current champion and one of Wdominant in ping pong and badminton. the most successful clubs in the league, with seven However, there is a huge interest in the sport since it titles. Although not as successful as Guangzhou, both was frst introduced to the country in the early 1900s. Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua have devoted Chinese President Xi Jinping likes the sport very fans and matches between these two teams which much. During his tenure, he met with FIFA president always feature packed stadiums and high energy. Gianni Infantino, visited the Manchester City Foot- Matches of the CSL often bring out young fans ball Academy in England, and developed an entire adorned with their favorite player’s jerseys, waving reform plan for football in China. giant flags, and cheering with the crowd. This sort of enthusiasm for domestic games is an important International Competition part of inspiring and motivating children to be more According to the FIFA rankings announced in involved with the sport, start taking classes, and one April 2018, China’s National Men’s Team is ranked day, play in front of thousands of cheering fans. 73rd in the world, and China’s National Women’s Although perhaps not as popular as other leagues, Team ranked 14th in 2017. China’s men’s team first the CSL has a number of accolades which have debuted at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but subse- steadily improved since 2004. It has the highest aver- quently lost all their matches – although this was age attendance in Asia, is broadcast to 96 countries largely considered China’s greatest accomplishment across the world, and is currently ranked frst in the

64 CHINA TODAY Asian Football Confederation of Asian leagues based One of the active participation. In 2015, the Wall Street Journal on their performances in Asian competitions over reported that China plans to establish 20,000 soccer a four-year period and FIFA ranking for national ways that schools within fve years and 50,000 within a decade, teams. The league has done incredibly well since China is work- 6,000 of which would be set up as part of a new pro- 2004, gaining a number of fans, star foreign players, ing to improve gram to cultivate the sport in Chinese campuses. sponsors, and wide media coverage. the football Doing so is a targeted efort by the Chinese Ministry skills of Chi- of Education in an attempt to not only garner a big- Inviting Foreign Talents ger interest in the sport, but hopefully, also usher in a One of the ways that China is working to improve nese players is fresh generation of skilled football players. “Adopting the football skills of Chinese players is by inviting for- by inviting measures that suit local conditions and gradual im- eign coaches and star foreign players to come play in foreign coach- provements are the two requirements we’ve set,” said the CSL. Of the current 16 head coaches of the CSL, es and star Wang Dengfeng, chief of the ministry’s department 13 are foreign nationals. One such star is Manuel Pel- of physical, health, and arts education. legrini, current head coach of Hebei China Fortune, foreign players In 2011, Xi announced three personal football- who previously managed teams in England, Argenti- to come play related wishes: for China to qualify for another World na, Chile, Ecuador, and Spain – having coached both in the CSL. Cup, to host the event and, finally, one day, to win Real Madrid and Villarreal. it. Although China has continued to work towards Te CSL also has a number of famous foreign play- these goals, the last and only time China qualifed for ers, such as Carlos Tevez, a well-known Argentine the World Cup fnals was in 2002, but both the presi- national who played in Europe for a number of years, dent and the nation are committed to improvement. joining Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in December With continued reform, added investment, and 2016 in a deal which made him one of the highest- new infrastructure, it’s not unrealistic to think that paid footballers in the world. Not only has this strat- China could qualify for the Qatar World Cup in 2022, egy helped attract fans to come see top-level players especially if FIFA were to expand the number of play for their local team, but it also aims to help qualifying teams to 48. In regards to the sport, this Chinese players improve their skills by playing with On November 29, would be considered a huge step forward for China’s 2015, Marcello those who have competitive experience in more chal- Lippi, now head football program. Valdés says, “China is defnitely one lenging leagues. Although this might not seem like coach of China’s of the favorites in the bid to organize the 2030 FIFA national football a winning strategy, the old adage holds true, “If you team, with enthu- World Cup. This would give them, in front of their siastic football want to be the best, you’ve got to play with the best.” players in Sanya, fans, a reason to believe that a new football power David Ramírez Valdés, a commentator on sports South China’s has arrived to the international stage.” C topics for the Chinese Global Television Network in Hainan Province. Spanish (CGTN) said, “China is on the right path, promoting young talent and giving the national play- ers more opportunity to shine in the Chinese Super League. The fact that more and more foreign stars are joining the Super League helps to develop the Chinese players and increase the audience of those games, including the thousands of kids who will guarantee the future of football in China.”

Looking Forward No matter where you go in China, names like Mes- si, Ronaldo, and Beckham are known by almost ev- eryone. Many children wear soccer jerseys, and there have been an increasing number of public football felds throughout the country. China is working dili- gently to transform the enthusiasm for football into

June 2018 65