Wei to revamp national setup
Source: Agencies |
April 29, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA plans to revamp its national team with a goal of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and rid its top league from a vast corruption scandal, the head of the football association said yesterday.
"The men's team should become one of Asia's top-tier teams within five years," Wei Di said. "I think as long as you are representing Asia in the World Cup, then you are in a top-tier Asian team."
China has qualified for the World Cup only once and is currently ranked 85th in the world.
Wei said the Chinese Football Association's aim was to improve the national team by scheduling more training matches and friendlies. Currently, the team plays only 10 matches a year, and that is the only real-game experience for some athletes who are not starters on their club teams.
"The purpose is to let the national team improve its play through more match experience, to let the fans feel the national team is changing and is not languishing at the bottom," he said.
One idea is for the national team to play each of the Chinese Super League clubs once a year, Wei said.
The football association is also planning to enforce a comprehensive playing style for the national and development squads to ensure a cohesiveness that has been lacking. It is also thinking of hiring foreign advisers, though no decisions had been made.
Wei also apologized for canceling a friendly against South Africa that was scheduled to be played yesterday in Germany, blaming travel difficulties stemming from the Iceland volcano eruption.
"I apologize to the South Africa football association," Wei said. "Our biggest concern was that if the team went, they'd be unable to come back. If they were one day late, we'd be unable to answer to our clubs ... This was really a pity."
"The men's team should become one of Asia's top-tier teams within five years," Wei Di said. "I think as long as you are representing Asia in the World Cup, then you are in a top-tier Asian team."
China has qualified for the World Cup only once and is currently ranked 85th in the world.
Wei said the Chinese Football Association's aim was to improve the national team by scheduling more training matches and friendlies. Currently, the team plays only 10 matches a year, and that is the only real-game experience for some athletes who are not starters on their club teams.
"The purpose is to let the national team improve its play through more match experience, to let the fans feel the national team is changing and is not languishing at the bottom," he said.
One idea is for the national team to play each of the Chinese Super League clubs once a year, Wei said.
The football association is also planning to enforce a comprehensive playing style for the national and development squads to ensure a cohesiveness that has been lacking. It is also thinking of hiring foreign advisers, though no decisions had been made.
Wei also apologized for canceling a friendly against South Africa that was scheduled to be played yesterday in Germany, blaming travel difficulties stemming from the Iceland volcano eruption.
"I apologize to the South Africa football association," Wei said. "Our biggest concern was that if the team went, they'd be unable to come back. If they were one day late, we'd be unable to answer to our clubs ... This was really a pity."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
