Chinese calm about Asian soccer accolades

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Chinese calm about Asian soccer accolades

(Xinhua) 13:16, November 27, 2013

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China's sweep of five Asian soccer awards including the most coveted the player of the year isn't a proof that China has become a continental soccer power, Chinese media said the day after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gala in Kuala Lumpur.

"A triumphant Evengrade has helped Chinese soccer hide its ugly face," Chengdu Daily commented on its twitter-like Weibo account.

"The new Asian Champions League winner has a hand in all the five titles awarded to China."

Evergrande skipper Zheng Zhi, who also captains Team China, was named the AFC player of the year, defeating South Korean Ha Dae Sung from FC Seoul and Iran and Esteghlal ace Javad Nekonam.

Zheng signed with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2010 after spells in former English Premier League team Charlton Athletic and Scottish giants Celtic. He soon became the backbone of the club, first coached by South Korean Lee Jang Soo and then World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.

Under Lippi, Evergrande became one of the most formidable clubs in Asia. The team won the third consecutive domestic league title this year and claimed the first Asian club champion for Chinese clubs in more than two decades.

Evergrande, owned by real estate tycoon Xu Jiayin, was awarded the club of the year while Zheng's teammate, Brazilian striker Murique, was named the Asian foreign player of the year.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) surprised many Chinese fans by winning the fair play association and the AFC member association of the year (inspiring category).

Despite the glorious success by Evergrande in Asia, many Chinese were disappointed about the poor performance of the national team, which had been eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in early stage and is struggling in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Big-spending Evergrande still has a deficit of 300 million yuan despite a ticket income of 150 million, according to CFA league official Liu Dianqiu, who expects the Guangzhou club to break even in 2014.

Former CFA president Wei Di said the way Evergrande runs the game can't be used in Chinese soccer.

"Evergrande mode can not be copied by Chinese soccer," he said. "Few people are as bold as Xu Jiayin."

Evergrande ended China's long run without a continental title on Nov. 9, giving hopes that Chinese soccer was actually improving.

Just over a week later, a goalless draw in the Asian Cup put the stark reality right in front of Chinese fans.

The Chinese team tied 0-0 with already-qualified Saudi Arabia in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

China, on eight points against Saudi Arabia's 13, needs to slug it out with Iraq, third with six points, next March.

Though fans admitted that Chinese players have tried their best in the game, web users described the team's performance as "a headless chicken running everywhere".

Although Lippi hailed the Champions League victory as "a kind of confirmation to the football level of the whole country", it does not change the fact that China remains in ninth place in Asia and constantly struggles around 100 in the world rankings.

Just as Lin Xiaohua, a CFA vice president, said on Tuesday's AFC gala, Chinese soccer has a long, long way to go.