10 weekend SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012 CHINA DAILY

EXCLUSIVE Q&A | DARIO CONCA

How do you find a balance between playing and looking aft er your baby boy? In , I have more time to look aft er my baby. He is so cute. But when we play away, either in the domestic league or in the AFC Champions League, my wife, sometimes, will bring the boy along. Otherwise, I talk to my wife on the phone when they are not with me.

Have you become accustomed to life in Guangzhou since arriv- ing a year ago? I found it hard at the start. Th ere are two people — my translator and driver — who have helped me a lot to learn about the city. Now I am quite happy living here.

Do you spend time with your friends from Argentina and Bra- LIU DAWEI / XINHUA zil? Dario Conca celebrates a goal for Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Championships against Japan’s in April. “The Chinese league has developed a very healthy momentum,” he said. I am a homebound father (laugh). I spend most of my time with my family. But sometimes I will go to a party with some of my Brazilian friends who run barbe- Chinese soccer according to Conca cue restaurants in Guangzhou.

Would you like your son to The ‘world’s game’ is moving in the right direction in this country, says one of its most expensive play soccer? Education plays an important imports of all-time, Qiu Quanlin reports from Guangzhou. role in a child’s growth. I will send my son to school. But I will not ft er playing in the The introduction believes China should look within stop him from playing soccer if he for about a year, Dario Conca believes he to boost the game here. ARGENTINE has an interest. of more interna- “In Brazil and Argentina, almost has developed an understanding of how tional stars will every child has the dream of playing SAYS LIPPI You were watching CCTV5, a the game is developing in China. “Chinese help China speed soccer since they are born. Th ey pur- major Chinese sports television up its soccer sue that dream by practicing hard. channel, when we started this soccer is growing. But there are big diff er- Th at’s why both countries have nur- CAN BOOST conversation. Do you pay atten- ences in soccer culture, compared to Brazil development.” tured so many international stars,” tion to Chinese sports? What is DARIO CONCA Conca said. HIS GAME and Argentina,” Conca said. ‘‘ GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE your favorite sport? A “Th ey cry and laugh, all because of I watch Chinese sports on TV STRIKER soccer. All their wishes in childhood quite frequently. I like tennis In an exclusive interview with However, a great gulf still remains are based on soccer.” Dario Conca expects the and golf. I am learning golf, and China Daily, the 29-year-old Argen- between China and South America’s Evergrande has started a local appointment of World Cup win- I know there are some nice golf tine international, currently play- elite countries, he said. a lot about China — the city we recruitment program, which will ning coach Marcello Lippi at courses in Guangzhou. ing for top CSL side Guangzhou “For example, Brazil has 12 clubs are playing for and the team. All include about 3,150 students aged Guangzhou Evergrande to help Evergrande, praised China’s eff orts in its national league, of which each I wanted to do was let him know 7-11 in the club’s initial phase of a improve his game. How do you manage your Chi- to attract more support from local has a history of about 100 years. Th ey more about how soccer is develop- cooperative school, which will begin “As an experienced interna- nese micro blog? Do you need companies and also introduce for- have a very profound soccer culture. ing here, which I think may have on Sept 1. tional coach, Lippi will defi nitely your translator to assist you? eign stars to improve its develop- In China, you don’t see a club with helped him make the decision to Th e school, a project co-sponsored bring advanced skills and tac- Most times my personal trans- ment. such a long history,” Conca said. play in China,” he said. “We have by the Guangzhou side and Span- tics to the team. I will try my best lator helps me manage the micro “The Chinese league has devel- Aft er being voted the best player the same language, the same cul- ish giant Real Madrid, will become to learn from him,” Conca said. blog. Also, I have some Brazilian oped a very healthy momentum in Brazil in 2009 while playing with ture and the same lifestyle. His one of the largest soccer bases in The defending Chinese Super friends who have helped me. All over the past two years. With more Fluminense, Conca agreed to 3 1/2 arrival will not only provide a the world. League champion side signed a I say online is true. I don’t know investment from private companies, -year transfer deal worth $10 mil- more happy life for me, but also “The soccer school, to some 2 1/2-year deal with the 64-year- why some people have misunder- the level of the domestic league has lion, then a record in the CSL, with help improve soccer development degree, will help nurture future Chi- old Italian on May 17. After spending more than stood me. improved a lot — especially this Evergrande in July 2011. in Guangzhou.” nese stars,” he said. a season with South Korean year,” he said. A reported annual salary of up to Barrios, 27, a former Paraguay Conca said in mid-July that he will coach Lee Jang-soo, Conca Do you plan to stay in China The signing of top international $10.4 million has put him among the striker with Bundesliga champion stay with Guangzhou club, despite said the new managerial aft er your contract with Guang- players including Nicolas Anelka, highest-paid players in the world, Borussia Dortmund, arrived in reports saying the Argentine inter- group would help Evergrande zhou Evergrande ends? a former striker with English Pre- although the club insisted the salary Guangzhou on Monday, aft er sign- national wanted to terminate his advance further in the domes- I plan to return to Fluminense mier League champion Chelsea, who is actually $ 7 million. ing a four-year contract on May 2 contract and return to Brazil. tic and AFC Champions League aft er the current contract ends. transferred to Shanghai Shenhua, “Th e introduction of more inter- with Evergrande. “I am very thankful for the fans’ sup- competitions. I have told my friends about World Cup winning coach Marcello national stars will help China speed Evergrande now has fi ve interna- port,” Conca said. “Yes, (I had some “Some people say that I had that and I have promised my Lippi, who was lured by Evergrande, up its soccer development,” he said. tionals, the others being Brazilians second thoughts) the last two weeks. a bad relationship with the for- wife to go back to Brazil. But and former Argentine national team Speaking about his club’s other Cleo, Muriqui and Paulo. But now I will fulfi ll the contract and mer coach. I don’t care about God may have other plans for coach Sergio Batista, who was recent- big signing, Lucas Barrios, Conca “I can provide assistance if more promise to stay with the club.” that. All that has come to an me. My son was just born in ly introduced as coach at Shanghai said Evergrande was developing an South American players are interest- end. I am looking forward to Guangzhou and I have played Shenghua, will inspire Chinese play- international culture. ed in playing in China,” Conca said. Contact the writer at qiuquanlin@ future challenges,” he said. only one year here. ers to greater heights, Conca said. “Before his coming, I told him However, the Argentine also chinadaily.com.cn. The Argentine international was once suspended for nine matches and fined 1 million yuan ($159,000) for criticiz- Fatherhood comes fi rst for proud dad Dario ing Lee after being taken off the pitch during the club’s AFC Champions League match By QIU QUANLIN ground). I am a professional player, seen in Chinese domestic league against Jeonbuk Hyundai but the behavior was just part of my matches. Motors on May 1. Guangzhou Evergrande striker love for the boy,” he said. “It is not surprising to see many “I didn’t mean to show disre- Dario Conca is playing a great jug- As a father, Conca said he wants players in other international leagues spect to anyone. I just want to gling act between being a father and to share every moment of his soccer take their children onto the fi eld. Real concentrate on the games and a soccer star. career with his family. soccer fans understand it,” he said. play better,” Conca told China Daily. “I am very happy to be with my “One of the ways to show love to Conca now lives with his family, The Argentine believes he baby, although sometimes I feel a the boy, for me, is to bring him onto which also includes his nurse’s family, has the capacity to improve his little tired since it takes time to look the field and share all the glories,” at a villa near Evergrande’s training game. aft er him aft er games,” Conca said. he said. fi eld in the Jinshazhou area, a suburb “I am always looking to get In an exclusive interview with Chi- So, on May 1, Conca ignored the of Guangzhou. better after each match. If I na Daily at his villa, where fi ve big match commissioner’s warning and “My family is getting used to life score 10 goals in a game, I will wedding photos hang upon a wall, waved to the home crowd and kissed here. I also have a driver and a trans- think about 12 goals in the next Conca said he is enjoying family life his son before the match, which lator who have helped me to get to match. I am very happy to be in a far-off country. the Guangzhou side lost 3-1 to the know a lot about the city,” he said. with Lippi and I will try my best “I am very thankful that I can defending K-League champion. Conca also hopes his son can get a to be better,” he said. spend time with my family in “I have received many awards and Chinese education during the fam- Talking about Lippi’s rel- Guangzhou, especially since my son trophies … but for me, the most ily’s time here. atively defensive tactics, was born here,” the Argentine inter- important moment in my soccer “It is a pity that he is too young to Conca said the team needed national said. career is to hold my baby on the study in Guangzhou. The child of to adapt to the new coach’s However, it is not an easy act ground,” he said. my nurse’s family, about 4 years’ old, ZOU ZHONGPIN / CHINA DAILY strategy. to perform, as Conca found out “As a father, you know a baby now speaks some Chinese. It is quite Dario Conca holds his baby boy, Benjamin, at home in Guangzhou. “It is unfair to say that the when the Asian Football Associa- brings much happiness and joy to pleasing to see him to say ‘hello’ to team focuses too much on tion told him not to take his young a family.” Chinese children,” Conca said. A tough domestic and AFC Cham- Cheng Yuansi, Conca’s personal defense after a 1-0 win or a 1-1 son onto the ground before the Conca’s son, Benjamin, was born However, the striker admits he is a pions League schedule this year has translator, is full of admiration for the draw. We need a collective spirit AFC Champions League match on March 15 in Guangzhou, the homebody and rarely ventures out. limited the time he can spend at Argentine. so all the players know how to between Evergrande and Jeonbuk capital of South China’s Guangdong “I have some friends from Bra- home. “He has some qualities that I rarely attack and defend after we take Hyundai on May 1, but he did so province. zil and Argentina in Guangzhou. I “When we play away matches, I talk fi nd in Chinese men － kind-hearted, a one-goal lead,” he said. anyway. Evergrande’s managers declined seldom go out with them. You can with my wife on the phone. Aft er train- loving the family and, of course, doing “I don’t know why they don’t to comment on the 29-year-old say I am more like an indoor father,” ing and playing in Guangzhou, I always the best in the fi eld he is engaged in,” QIU QUANLIN like this (taking the child onto the father’s move, which had rarely been he said. stay with my family,” he said. Cheng said.