On May 11th, the Chinese soccer world celebrated a special day - the 90th birthday of the Nian Weisi soccer guru. On this day, the ballroom of the International Trade China Hotel in Beijing became a gathering place for footballers, and those veterans who had played for the national team, spanning over the ages, gathered together to offer birthday wishes to Nian Weisi.
Nian Weisi's "disciples and grandchildren", such as Wu Lei, Yan Junling, Zhang Linpeng, Wang Shenchao, Zhu Chenjie, etc., although they are located in a different place, they also send birthday greetings to their mentor through video.
Xu Genbao, the most honored disciple of Nian Weisi, made a special trip from Chongming Island in Shanghai to Beijing to gather a large number of footballers to celebrate the birthday of his mentor. He said with emotion, "Chinese soccer is in the doldrums, but we will eventually look up and move forward."
Nian Weisi, as a leading figure in Chinese soccer, has been a player, coach and official in many fields: he was selected for the national team at the age of 17, became a member of the national team at the age of 22, became the head coach of the national team at the age of 32, and was elected as the president of the CFA at the age of 55. After his retirement, he received the CFA's "Outstanding Contribution to Soccer" award and the AFC's "Lifetime Contribution Award".
Among the many disciples of Nian Weisi, Xu Genbao has always been active in the front line of soccer, training a batch of excellent soccer talents. At his birthday party, Xu Genbao presented a piece of calligraphy to his mentor, symbolizing "the green hills are always there, and the sunset is infinite".
Nian Wiese's 90th birthday became a big gathering of masters and disciples. Led by Xu Genbao, soccer personalities such as Rong Zhixing, Wang Junsheng, Liu Qingquan and Qi Wusheng were present to celebrate the birthday of their mentor.
In his birthday speech, Nian Weisi expressed his heartfelt joy and expectations for the future of Chinese soccer. He hopes that Chinese soccer will continue to work hard and live up to the expectations of the whole country.
Gao Zhidan, Secretary of the Party Group and Director General of the State General Administration of Sports, sent his congratulations to Nian Weisi, while Gao Hongbo, Vice President of the CFA, brought along a customized national football gown embroidered with Nian Weisi's name and the word "90".
From the 1950s to the 1990s, Xu Genbao and other generations of footballers have inherited the feeling of master and disciple and worked tirelessly for the development of Chinese soccer.
In the hearts of this group of soccer players, the birthday of their mentor has a special significance. On the second day of New Year's Day this year, Xu Genbao ushered in his 80th birthday, and nearly 70 disciples, including Wu Lei, Yan Junling and Zhu Chenjie, came to congratulate him.
Xu Genbao said he hoped his disciples would remember the teachings of their mentor, pass on the spirit of soccer and contribute to the development of Chinese soccer.
Xu Genbao believes that footballers should have a grateful heart and pass on the teachings of their teachers. He advocated that whenever you remember the kindness of your teachers, consider the birthday party as a legacy.
Chinese soccer has not entered the World Cup, but Xu Genbao firmly believe that as long as generation after generation of soccer people make unremitting efforts, Chinese soccer will eventually realize the dream.
