12 | Thursday, May 21, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS

BASKETBALL Yao’s new­school thinking targets next gen

CBA chief says measures to improve tion,” Yao told media after a signing long shot in China due to the coun­ Yao also revealed that the CBA ceremony at the Peking University try’s emphasis on academic excel­ will collaborate with the school campus hoops will feed into pro game on Tuesday. lence and the lack of quality sports bodies to build a database of “The promotion of physical edu­ basketball training in schools. student players registered within By SUN XIAOCHEN China School Sports Federation cation should never be just a slogan. Improving the coaching level in the school system, which he believes [email protected] (CSSF, representing middle schools) Combining sports in all­round edu­ schools is at the core of the coopera­ will help spot more talent. signed a memorandum of under­ cation is the future, and that takes a tion, Yao said. “It can allow us to trace and follow A major exponent of physical edu­ standing on Tuesday in Beijing to collective effort to push forward “Maybe we pay more attention to the growth of players over a long cation on campus, China’s basket­ enhance cooperation between the consistently.” the development of players, but how period of time, and it will also ena­ ball chief Yao Ming is counting on three organizations in the develop­ In a country where an estimated do they become players? They ble us to know their past and predict teamwork with the country’s school ment of basketball on campus. 300 million people regularly shoot should be trained by coaches. So the their future development,” he said. athletic system to boost the game’s The MoU, based on an earlier hoops, Yao has often reiterated that development of coaches is our top Thanks to the joint efforts of the profile from bottom up. agreement between the CBA and sustainable success on the elite priority,” said Yao, who was elected CBA and the Ministry of Education, Despite being busy preparing the the Ministry of Education signed in stage rests on a solid school­based Combining sports in CBA chief in 2017. the quality of players emerging country’s top professional league to 2017, will help the two ministry­affil­ system as a supplement to the all­round education The CBA will offer greater person­ through the school system has signif­ restart amid the COVID­19 crisis, iated school sports organizations shrinking talent supply within the nel and technical support to the icantly improved in recent years, Yao, the chairman of the Chinese better train their coaches, expand a country’s State­run sports system. is the future, and that training of coaches in the middle­ underlined by the stronger presence Basketball Association, continues to “mini­basketball” program on cam­ The Chinese national men’s takes a collective school and collegiate systems, while of Chinese University Basketball focus his energies on the grassroots pus, streamline school competitions team’s disappointing home per­ the three parties will work on poli­ Association talents at the CBA drafts. game. and upgrade a student­athlete data­ formance at last year’s FIBA World effort to push forward cies aimed at paving the way for Last year saw a record number of The former NBA All­Star is deter­ base with more input from the CBA. Cup, where the host finished 24th to consistently.” more retired pros to stay in the college players — 24 — participate in mined to bolster campus basketball Yao said he’s pinned high hopes lose Asia’s only direct qualification game as coaches on campus. the draft, with top­pick Wang Shao­ by building greater chemistry with on the collective effort to lay strong­ spot for the Tokyo Olympics, has Yao Ming, “We all are aware of the deficien­ jie of Peking University enjoying a the country’s school sports govern­ er foundations for the sport’s future exposed the stagnant player devel­ CBA chairman cies of the coaches in our system. We highly encouraging debut season as ing bodies. in China. opment of the Chinese game. earnestly need to set up a coach a pro with the Beijing Royal Fighters The CBA, the Federation of Univer­ “The fundamental part is that we However, the pathway from training system,” said Shen Zhen, a before the COVID­19 outbreak put sity Sports of China (FUSC) and the expect to improve with the coopera­ school to the pro leagues remains a vice­president of the FUSC. the brakes on the campaign.

SOCCER Van Bronckhorst raring to kick off his Chinese odyssey

By SHI FUTIAN At a meeting between the CFA season goal record of 29, is refusing [email protected] and its member clubs in Shanghai to rein in his scoring ambitions just earlier this month, a number of sce­ because the season is likely to be Guangzhou R&F head coach Gio­ narios involving a shortened cam­ shortened. vanni van Bronckhorst is chomping paign were discussed, and it’s clear “If there are going to be less at the bit for his debut Chinese that CSL clubs are bracing them­ games, it’s more difficult (to break Super League campaign to kick off, selves for an abbreviated but more my record),” Zahavi told media on and has declared his charges ready intense schedule. Monday. “Sometimes, if it’s more dif­ for battle after an extended offsea­ “I understand the new setup for ficult, you push yourself to a higher son afforded the Dutch great extra the games, and we will play fewer level. I will try. If I can do it, I’ll be time to settle in to his new job. games. We need to adjust to the cur­ more than happy. The former Barcelona, Arsenal rent situation,” said the 45­year­old “I need to prove that I’m one of the and Rangers star was appointed by van Bronckhorst. best foreign players in China. It’s R&F in January, before the COVID­ Despite boasting the league’s top very difficult to keep scoring, which 19 pandemic forced the postpone­ scorer, Eran Zahavi, among their means I have to work hard every day ment of the 2020 CSL season. ranks, R&F could only manage a dis­ for this. The pressure is on me and I Now with CSL clubs awaiting appointing 12th­place finish in the always put pressure on myself to news on a possible June or July kick­ 16­team standings last year, with a maintain my standards. ” off, van Bronckhorst and his squad goals­conceded total of 72 and a Zahavi says van Bronckhorst’s are raring to put their long hours on minus­18 goal difference telling the arrival has energized the squad, the training pitch to the test. story of its leaky defense. with players keen to impress the “It’s the first time that we’ve Tightening up at the back is, new coach and competition for trained six weeks straight. We are therefore, a priority for van Bronc­ starting berths intensifying as a very happy with the amount of khorst, who operated in midfield result. “We are really ambitious to training we’ve managed to get in. and defense during his playing days. play… and everybody is really posi­ We talked about the tactics and the “Obviously, we want to improve tive,” said the 32­year­old. players are getting stronger physi­ not only attacking but also defend­ That’s exactly what van Bronc­ cally,” van Bronckhorst told media ing,” said the Dutchman. khorst wants to see. after a Monday training session. “Last year, we conceded many goals. “We know that everyone wants to “The best solution under these We are working hard with the whole be in the starting XI for the first circumstances is that we hope to team to be stronger in the defense... game. The competition is really play the league as soon as possible. Hopefully when the game starts, the fierce. Ultimately, it’s for me to Now many months have passed players can work hard to improve tac­ decide which eleven to start the without playing. There are not tically and mentally. It’s not just about league,” he said. many months left to play this sea­ working hard in training. “After working for months with son…All our players want to be “I think we are improving in every my players, I feel good about them ready for the start of the season.” aspect of what’s needed, such as in terms of how they play and how The Chinese Football Association defending, attacking and corner they perform physically. I’m com­ is awaiting approval for a CSL kickoff kicks. We need to adapt to a differ­ bining them with my tactics. We still date after submitting plans to the ent way of playing, which is very have some weeks to go. General Administration of Sport of demanding for the players. But they “For now, the team is almost com­ China, with late June or early July are doing an excellent job.” plete. There’s no need to change thought to be under consideration. Israeli striker Zahavi, a two­time anything in the squad... At this Quite how the season will be con­ CSL Golden Boot winner and the moment, we have no plans to add Guangzhou R&F head coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst shows his players how it’s done during a train­ tested, however, remains unclear. proud owner of the league’s single­ some players to the squad.” ing session in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Monday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Digest

BASKETBALL “Sam and I have always been Veteran players receive year­round TENNIS belongs to the federations, ITF, ATP, filed the written Grant lashes out at MJ great friends. We’re still great benefits. Teams usually have to cut Italian ace criticizes WTA ... they are the ones who make pleas to Broward over Last Dance ‘lies’ friends. But the sanctity of that lock­ their rosters down to 12 before the player relief fund tournaments happen, and us, the County Circuit er room, I would never put anything regular season begins, which would players, pay them back with our per­ Court on Monday, Horace Grant, personal out there. The mere fact have been this past weekend. Matteo Berret­ formances. a day after Baker who won three that Sam Smith was an investigative tini thinks tennis “They have to take care of us. The was released from NBA champion­ reporter. That he had to have two SOCCER players should real problem is deeper.” jail on $200,000 ship rings with sources, two, to write a book, I guess. Six EPL players test not be put in a The governing bodies recently bond. Baker the Chicago Why would MJ just point me out?” position where raised over $6 million to help the requested a trial Bulls, wasn’t positive for COVID­19 they have to pro­ lower­level players, who depend sole­ by jury, although DeAndre pleased with the WNBA teams given The English Premier League con­ vide financial aid ly on tournament winnings to earn it was reported Baker way he was por­ to fellow profes­ deadline to cut rosters firmed on Tuesday that six players their living, during the shutdown that no court trayed by former Horace Grant and club staff have tested positive sionals and it Matteo caused by the coronavirus pandemic. dates were set. teammate Mich­ WNBA teams will have to get their for coronavirus, including players should be the Berrettini The International Tennis Federa­ Dunbar’s attorney, Michael Grie­ ael Jordan in ESPN’s The Last Dance rosters down to 12 by May 26 so from Watford and Burnley. responsibility of tion, which operates the second­tier co, told the Seattle Times that he documentary. players can get paid starting on June Later, Burnley revealed that their those governing the sport, the Italian men’s and women’s tours, is working filed not­guilty pleas on Tuesday on The 10­episode series, which 1, a source familiar with the situa­ assistant manager Ian Woan, who is world No 8 has said. on additional measures, including a behalf of his client. focused on the 1990s Bulls in gener­ tion told Associated Press. asymptomatic, had tested positive. World No 1 Novak Djokovic had new relief fund, to help players Baker, 22, faces four charges of al and Jordan in particular, conclud­ The source spoke to AP on condi­ The Premier League said that a urged players to contribute to a fund ranked between 501 and 700, and are armed robbery and four charges of ed its run on Sunday night on ESPN. tion of anonymity on Tuesday night total of 748 players and club staff set up by the sport’s governing bodies not covered by other relief programs. aggravated assault. Dunbar, 27, is In the documentary, Jordan because the roster deadline had not were tested on Sunday and Monday. to help the lower­ranked profession­ charged with four counts of armed alleged that Grant was the source of been officially announced. “Of these, six have tested positive als affected by the tennis shutdown AMERICAN FOOTBALL robbery. He also was released Sun­ Sam Smith’s book The Jordan Rules, The league and the players’ union from three clubs,” an EPL statement which began in March and will con­ NFL pair plead not day morning, on $100,000 bond. which painted Jordan in an unflat­ are still working out many details of read. “Players or club staff who have tinue at least until end of July. Witnesses told police that the pair tering light. how often players will get paid and tested positive will now self­isolate “I took a moment to reflect on my guilty in robbery case stole money and watches while Grant responded on Tuesday in an how much. Those negotiations for a period of seven days. The Pre­ priorities, not because I don’t respect New York Giants cornerback armed with a semi­automatic gun at interview with Chicago’s ESPN 1000 largely depend on the length and mier League is providing this aggre­ the other players, because I believe DeAndre Baker and Seattle Sea­ a house in Miramar last week. Both radio: “Lie, lie, lie. ... If MJ had a start date of the season. gated information for the purposes that no player — in any kind of sports hawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar men turned themselves in on Satur­ grudge with me, let’s settle this like Players who are waived over the of competition integrity and over­ — should be put in the position of pleaded not guilty to all charges day. The attorneys for both men men. Let’s talk about it. Or we can next week won’t get paid, but they sight.” helping another player financially,” against them stemming from last have said their clients are innocent, settle it another way. But yet and still, will receive benefits through June 30, The Premier League clubs have Berrettini told Eurosport Italy’s week’s alleged armed robbery in citing affidavits signed by witnesses. he goes out and puts this lie out that I the source told AP. The WNBA offered been given the green light to start Call­azione show. Miramar, Florida. was the source behind (the book). rookies health benefits starting May 1. small­group training from Tuesday. “I think that this responsibility Bradford Cohen, Baker’s attorney, XINHUA — AGENCIES