In 2017, a soccer match between China and South Korea was fiercely staged at the Herong Stadium in Changsha, Hunan Province, with the national team narrowly defeating South Korea 1-0, a battle that has been described as a "blessing for the national soccer team".
Marshal He Long was not only a military man, but also a promoter of soccer. He had formed the first comprehensive stadium named after a national leader in Chinese history. As early as during the War of Resistance against Japan, he formed a basketball team and later created a soccer team aimed at keeping soldiers physically and mentally fit during their breaks. Despite his busy war schedule, Marshal He Long's achievements in soccer were not remarkable.
At first, Heron regarded soccer as a recreational activity. The soldiers knew nothing about the rules of soccer, but their enthusiasm and energy still brought joy to the officers and men. He Long thought that the game would be more interesting if there was another team. So he began to form a second soccer team, and this time he chose college students who had a foundation in the sport.
Despite being non-professionals, the competition for the two soccer teams was fierce. Heron was a firm believer in inviting the right candidate at all costs. His efforts eventually paid off as his soccer teams won nine championships and one runner-up finish between 1913 and 1934.
Li Huitang, known as the "King of Balls", was a soccer star at that time. He Long wrote a letter to the "King of Balls", hoping that he could help train the soccer team of the Southwest Military Region. Although the "King of Balls" politely declined the invitation, He Long did not give up looking for a suitable candidate.
He Long finally meets Fu Zhen and promises him favorable treatment. Under the guidance of Fuzhen, He Long's soccer team made remarkable progress. Although it was disbanded due to regional abolition, many of the players went on to become the backbone of the national and world soccer teams.
Appointed head of the Sports Committee, He Long vowed to change the backwardness of China's three major sports (volleyball, basketball and soccer). Under his leadership, the level of Chinese volleyball and basketball made great strides, and the level of soccer continued to rise.
Through the joint efforts of He Long and his players, the Chinese soccer team emerged as one of the top teams in Asian soccer, took off the hat of the "Sick Man of East Asia", and won a number of medals in the World Championships.
However, from 1960 onwards, the Chinese soccer team began to go downhill, and many of its competitions ended in failure. He Long was deeply disappointed, but he believed the blame lay with himself and continued to study Chinese soccer.
According to He Long, the slippage of soccer stems from ideological problems. He repeatedly sent the Chinese soccer team to study with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops, encouraging the players, "Don't be afraid of failure; the ambition of the Chinese people cannot be wiped out!"
Under the tutelage of He Long, the Chinese soccer team was re-established in 1965 and finished second in the 1966 Asian Emerging Forces Games, a consolation for He Long.
