Tuba says goodbye as years pass for soccer memories
Tuba's figure is moving away, six years of companionship and friendship, transformed into the words of the poet Wang Wei's farewell, as if asking: "Spring grass will be green next year, the king's grandchildren return or not?"
This goodbye may be forever, and I was determined in my heart to see him off one last time no matter what.
The shadow of parting hangs over the bleakness of this moment.
Early in the morning of November 4, 2009, I hurried to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where Tuba was staying, before I had a chance to freshen up. There were few fans in the empty lobby.
Room 1407, a familiar figure - Master Zhang, Tuba's full-time driver - is busy carrying luggage, three large boxes full of Tuba's memories that seem to herald his return.
Tuba, wearing a light green T-shirt, hugged me tightly, and at that moment, I was transported back to my first interview with him.
"Do you remember the moment we met?" Tuba asked me, and I replied, "Of course I don't. On January 7, 2004, at the Beijing airport, you were the first media friend of my country's tour." Time flies, six years have passed.
On that day six years ago, I was still waiting in the cold wind to finally welcome Tuba, who gave me the first impression of a professional coach.
On the plane, we talked for a long time, and now it seems like that was the last time we talked so freely.
The years have gone by, and Tuba's face is etched with the marks of time, his eyes revealing a sense of the passage of time.
Unspeakably complex emotions
In the hotel lobby, journalists prepared for their final interview with Touba, and Salon leaders came to say goodbye. However, few fans came to say goodbye.
I recalled the enthusiastic scene when Touba arrived at Jinan Airport on January 7, 2004, when the enthusiasm of the fans still seemed to ring in my ears.
This time, only Gao Yao and Jiao Zhe, the players of Taishan team, rushed to the hotel but failed to meet their mentor because of the traffic jam.
Tuba's answers were always so perfunctory, as if there was too much to say.
At 9:20, Tuba left, and I hugged him goodbye with a sense of sadness in my heart.
Will Touba ever come back? My intuition told me that it was unlikely that he would remain as Luneng's manager. Sure enough, the following year, Croatian sensation Ivankovic took over the coaching reins at Taishan.
Touba became Wuhan Zall's relief coach in April 2013, and that was the last time I saw him.
A large number of fans greeted him at the airport and presented him with flowers, however, he failed to help Wuhan Zall turn the tide.
When Tuba left again, I was no longer able to see him off.
