On the grassy field of Taoyuan Qingpu Stadium, the sound of running footsteps intertwined with the rustling sound of a rolling soccer ball. Suddenly, a crisp crash pierced the tranquility, and immediately afterward, the soccer ball that had been rolling on the field disappeared instantly at the end of the field of vision, transforming itself into a small star point on the skyline.
Taiwan, known as the "soccer desert", was abuzz with excitement at the practice field of the Taoyuan International Men's and Women's Soccer Teams (Inter Taoyuan Football Club). The composition of the teams is striking, with a mix of students and socialites, blondes and tans playing alongside each other, and the sound of Chinese and English exchanges echoing around the pitch.
The story of this team is much more than that. In this interview and filming, we will dig deeper into the unique charm behind Taoyuan International, a pioneering Taiwanese soccer team.
Taoyuan International was founded by three boys with a passion for soccer. in 2003, soccer had not yet flourished in Taiwan and educational resources were scarce, but the teenagers, who came from an American school, were looking for a professional coach when they accidentally discovered that there were more kids in Taiwan who had a passion for soccer.
Oliver Lazarus Harley, a coach from Jamaica, co-founded the International Football Club (IFC), the predecessor of Taoyuan International, with coaches from the Netherlands and England. With the three coaches' dedication to education, the club grew to 200 members, and in 2019, the Taoyuan International soccer team was finally established in cooperation with Taoyuan City.
Taoyuan International Head Coach Oliver Lazarus Harley Town Shine said, "Many of the players have been with the team since their U10 days and have gradually grown into what they are now. Even when they leave the team, they continue to participate in college soccer teams and professional soccer leagues." Oliver has witnessed the growth of the team and has watched with pleasure as these players have incorporated soccer into their lives.
The team name "Inter", which stands for "International" in English, is also the core of the team. Players from all over the world, including Israel, France, Japan and more than 20 other countries, and players of different ages, together with three coaches from different countries, make this team very different from the usual campus-based university teams in terms of training mode, players' thinking, and on-court strategies.
For example, Roxy, a player from Vietnam, had no formal training before joining Inter. With his love for soccer, he worked in a factory during the day and practiced hard at night. After five years of hard work, he finally made his debut in this year's senior level (Taiwan's second soccer league). "He has a broad mind and practices hard. His efforts inspire the whole team." Oliver recounts the players' points as if they were his own.
Captain Xu Hongjian, an experienced player, often discusses tactics and exchanges tips one-on-one with his teammates. "He is a very leader-like figure and his match experience is one of the best among the current line players." Oliver emphasized that good players are not only identified by specific skills or shots on goal, but Taoyuan International focuses on each player's personality, attitude, and even their stage of life, blending into a team with complementary strengths.
Such a diverse and open-minded philosophy is also reflected in the way Peachtree International trains. "I will give advice but never teach a specific strategy. The game is as varied as life, and we need many different ideas to cope with it. I believe every player has the thinking ability to judge the situation." Taoyuan International breaks away from the traditional duck-filling training and develops the players' ability to think independently, giving them space to express their opinions.
Although some Taiwanese players left Taoyuan International in the early stage of its establishment due to difficulties in adapting to independent training or integrating the team concept, as of this year, they have gradually brought together a group of players who are suitable for each other and have a team consensus, and their performance in the game has become increasingly outstanding.
Taoyuan International's two major battles in 2020 are the 2020 Taiwan Mulan Football League, the highest hall of fame for women's football, which starts in April, and the Taiwan B Football League (T1) for men's football. This year, the women's soccer team has recruited three international players from the Chinese team, including captain Ding Qi, striker Chen Yanping, and defender Pan Yanxin, as well as foreign aid player Puyi from Thailand's World Cup international team, which has greatly increased their strength and significantly improved their performance in the Mulan League.
