Since 2000, the Singapore Football League (SFL) has gone through a major change, relaxing the restrictions on international players, a move aimed at attracting Chinese players to the league in order to raise the level of the league and stock up on naturalized players. Shi Chia Yi, who had shown great talent in the gymnasium, became the focus of attention of the technical officials of the Singapore FA.
However, Shi Chia-Yi had long since given up his ambitious dreams of becoming a player in the A-League or a member of the national team, and his primary goal was to survive, arriving in Singapore in 2002, joining the youth league, and then starting to represent the adult team the following year.
In 2004, the competition intensified when Xinlin brought in players from Guangdong Famous Strikers, but Shi Jia Yi managed to stay in the team with her outstanding performance and dedication.
Qiu Li, two years older than Shi Jia Yi, has been playing soccer since he was a youngster and has the ability to be a versatile player, and has been steadily rising through the ranks of Liaoning's ladder to Changchun Yatai's ladder, and then to Liaoning's team.
Despite not making many appearances in Changchun Yatai's A-B league, Qiu Li's potential was highly regarded. He was once held down on the bench for long periods of time at Liaoning, with his monthly salary hovering between just 3,000 and 5,000 yuan.
Introverted Qiu Li is similar to Shi Jia Yi in that they are focused on training and competing and are not good at dealing with people.
In Liaoning, Qiu Li was a victim of an intra-team conflict and was waived. In his four years with Liaoning, he made only two appearances.
The stories of Qiu Li and Shi Jia Yi epitomize the struggles and challenges of Chinese players in the Singapore League. They have found their place here and have gone through the process of going from a low point to a comeback.
Over time, the Singapore League has gradually incorporated more international elements, and the footprints of Chinese players here have become a unique piece of soccer history.
In a soccer world full of variables, the stories of Qiu Li and Shi Jia Yi show us that no matter where you are, as long as you have a dream and work hard, it is possible to realize your soccer dreams.
