Mr. Ma, a columnist for Sports Weekly, has a problem with naturalized players who lack blood ties, jokingly calling them "mercenaries" and believing that they can't really contribute to the national football team. It is unfair to compare them to "mercenaries", but is their professionalism really lower than that of local players? Is it true that only by planting deep roots in the local community can we develop a true sense of identity? Isn't this a deep-rooted xenophobia?
Naturalized players are by no means less athletic than homegrown players.
Looking back at the period of the Top 12, the heroic performance of Ackerson, Luo Guofu and Alan on the field of play was remarkable. In the away match against Saudi Arabia, the three of them played together in the second half, forcing the Saudi team into a desperate situation and almost reversing the situation. And in the crucial home match against Australia, a number of naturalized players were on the pitch at the same time, enabling the opponents to collect only one point. These two games were the highlights of the National Football League in the Top 12. The naturalized players' fighting spirit and key roles were impeccable.
If the naturalized players had been used wisely, the national football team's road to the finish line might not have been so bumpy, or at least it would not have been such a lousy performance. However, all this was buried by the short-sightedness and greed of head coach Li Tie.
Naturalized players have impeccable professional attitudes, both in matches and in daily training. In terms of professionalism, such as self-discipline and initiative, naturalized players even surpass local players. The so-called lack of "identity" is just that they are not mixed up with the bad habits of local players and are not confused with unprofessional behavior.
In preparation for the Asian Cup, Ackerson returned to the Chinese Super League.
In the era of golden dollar soccer, Ixon accumulated a great deal of wealth, so he had the capital to enjoy life without having to wind up on the pitch. He chose to join Chengdu Rongcheng at a fraction of his former salary. Money is not the motivation for his return. Moreover, he is at the end of his career and is less likely to be able to advance socially by joining the national team. While Iverson may feel guilty for failing to help the national soccer team reach the World Cup, it's not his fault. He is still eager to contribute to Chinese soccer.
Eckerson has spent most of his career in China and his greatest moments here. It's hard to imagine without emotion. In addition, he made a lot of money in China and realized his wealth freedom. With gratitude, he returned to the game, eager to play for the national team again. Despite being plagued by repeated injuries, Eckerson chose not to have surgery just to wait for the national team's call. Isn't this the sense of identity that Mr. Ma's so-called "mercenaries" don't have?
Thus, Exxon's desire to play in the Asian Cup is not a falsehood, but a genuine one.
If there is a real problem with Ackerson's "attitude", perhaps it is because he has a different view of the management of the National Football League, or because he has a difference of opinion with the head coach and is regarded as a "dissident".
