On the Taoyuan Qingpu Stadium, a rush of running sounds echoed among the grass, followed by a crisp ball strike, and in an instant, the ball, rolling on the ground, was transformed into a shimmering flash of brilliance on the skyline.
When it comes to the Taoyuan International Men's and Women's Football Club (Inter Taoyuan Football Club), the title of Taiwan's "soccer desert" seems a bit funny. The team is full of diversity and vigor, with students and professionals playing side by side, blonde European faces and dark-skinned African players, and chants in both Chinese and English on the pitch.
The uniqueness of Taoyuan International goes far beyond that. In this interview and record, we will dig deeper into the countless legendary stories of this pioneering Taiwanese soccer team.
Taoyuan International was born out of the love of soccer by three young men in 2003, when soccer in Taiwan was still in its infancy and educational resources were scarce. These three young men, who had received their soccer training in American schools, were determined to find a professional coach and accidentally discovered that there were many young people with a passion for soccer hidden in Taiwan.
Oliver Lazarus Harley, a Jamaican-born coach, led three coaches from the Netherlands and England to co-found the International Football Club, the predecessor of Taoyuan International. Through their efforts, the club's membership quickly grew to 200, and the Taoyuan International soccer team was finally established in 2019 in conjunction with Taoyuan City.
Taoyuan International head coach Oliver Lazarus Harley of Town Hall.
"Many of the players have been with the team since U10 and have grown with us since. Even when they leave, they continue to show their soccer talents in college or professional leagues." Oliver carries himself with a great deal of pride, and his gaze reveals a deep love for the team. Many of the players on the team have now been playing soccer for 6 or 7 years and soccer has become an integral part of their lives.
The team name "Inter", meaning "international" in English, is also the core of the team. The players come from all over the world, and the coaching staff is equally diverse, including players from Israel, France and Japan, as well as three coaches from different countries, making Taoyuan International's training model, player thinking and on-court strategy unique. "We have a unique cooperation model called 'Inter System'. Drawing inspiration from players and coaches of different countries and ages, it blends into a tacit understanding shared by the team."
Roxy, a player from Vietnam, had no formal training before joining Inter, but with his love for soccer, he worked in a factory during the day and kept training at night. After five years of training, Roxy finally made it to the senior level (Taiwan Second Division soccer league) this year. "He is broad-minded and diligent. His efforts inspire the whole team." Oliver knows a little bit about his players. Experienced captain Xu Hongjian, who has shown excellence in the Asian Games, often shares tactics and techniques with his teammates. "He has a leadership style, is experienced in the game and is the backbone of the team."
Captain Xu Hongjian communicates with his teammates during the game.
Oliver emphasizes that identifying a good player is not only about his specific skills, but also about his personality, attitude and stage of life. Taoyuan International is committed to building a team that combines the best of all worlds to create a "whole that is greater than the sum of its parts".
Such a diverse and open-minded philosophy is also reflected in the way Peachtree International trains. "I will offer advice, but never teach a specific strategy. The game is as unpredictable as life, and we need a variety of different ideas to deal with it. I believe every player has the ability to judge the situation." Taoyuan International breaks away from traditional filler training and develops players' ability to think independently, giving them space to express their opinions. Through every sharing, coaches and players learn from each other and make progress together. Although some Taiwanese players had difficulty adapting to independent training or team concepts and left in the early days of its establishment, as of this year, Taoyuan International has brought together a group of players who adapt to each other and share common philosophies, and their game results have become increasingly bright.
Taoyuan International's two major battles in 2020 are the 2020 Taiwan Mulan Football League, the highest hall of fame for women's soccer in the country, which starts in April, and the Taiwan B Football League (T1) for men's soccer. The women's soccer team has attracted three international players from the Chinese team this year, including captain Ding Qi, striker Chen Yanping, and defender Pan Yanxin, as well as foreign aid player Puyi from the World Cup in Thailand, which has greatly increased their strength. In the Mulan League, the Taoyuan International Women's Soccer team's goal differential has improved significantly, and their season results have made remarkable progress.
