Our soccer field is facing a profound transformation and figuring out the way forward. Looking back at the years twenty years ago, we have a clear blueprint for learning. At that time, although the results were mediocre, but also enough to compete with the middle of the Asian teams, and even has the potential to impact the World Cup. However, today, despite the significant improvement in the standard of living of the people, soccer is in a daze. We have learned from many strong soccer countries, tried various styles and paths, but seems to have become a "four unlike" that can not be categorized. Women's soccer star Wang Frost has pointed out that perhaps we can learn from our near neighbor Japan's path of soccer development.
There is no denying that the development model of Japanese soccer is not flawless, but it is undoubtedly successful in terms of what it has achieved. Recently, international player Yang Xu led Shanghai Asahi FC's youth players to receive training in Japan, an experience that profoundly reveals the gap between Chinese and Japanese soccer, as well as the success of Japanese soccer and the shortcomings of Chinese soccer. This gap is not a superficial phenomenon and has nothing to do with the FA or management. Let's analyze the crux of Chinese soccer from this perspective.
Yang Xu was deeply impressed by the difference between the Chinese and Japanese soccer environments during his time leading Asahi FC's young players' training in Japan. He revealed this disparity to the young players. The children's words were heartbreaking. They said, "The atmosphere of Japanese soccer is very good. The biggest gap between Chinese and Japanese soccer is that every street in China is a cram school, while every street in Japan has a small stadium. We are usually in cram schools." This most intuitive and superficial gap touches their hearts deeply. They don't care about the FA, the league and the youth training system because most Chinese kids don't even have the opportunity to play soccer, let alone experience something deeper.
This has led to a discussion about how to balance soccer and studies. Our reality is that if we do not study, it will be difficult to get a good career path in the future, which in turn will affect the quality of life. We may try to let our children play soccer and exercise after their studies, but how many of us dare to let our children embark on the path of professional soccer altogether? The gap between cram schools and soccer fields epitomizes the gap between Chinese and Japanese soccer. But at this stage, the model of Japanese soccer is not entirely suitable for us.
It is saddening to see our young players yearn for the Japanese soccer environment. However, this is the reality they need to face and they have to work hard for it. Either they can change their future by studying hard to get more opportunities to play soccer for the next generation, or, the talented kids should focus on soccer development which will bring them a better life. Of course, all of this needs to be built on an economic foundation.
