Tuba is about to embark on the way home, six years of fighting side by side, six years of deep friendship, in the Taishan team meritorious coach waved goodbye, my heart welled up in the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei's farewell poem: "the mountains to send off, the sun dusk to cover the wood. Spring grass will be green next year, will the king's grandson return?" This farewell may be forever, I am determined to give him a ride.
We're about to say goodbye. Maybe we won't see each other again.
On November 4, 2009, I hurried to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where Tuba was staying, in the morning light. The hotel lobby is empty and lonely, and there are few fans. 1407 room, Master Zhang is moving three boxes full of luggage to the downstairs, Tuba is ready for a long parting.
Tuba's back, fixed in the depths of memory
Tuba, dressed in a light green T-shirt, hugged me tightly as memories flooded back. He asked, "Do you remember the moment we met?" I replied, "Of course I won't forget." We met for the first time on January 7, 2004, at the Beijing airport, and since then we have had a six-year friendship.
Time is running out and Tuba is old
Six years ago, Tuba was 51 years old, and now he has entered his 60s. The years have carved wrinkles on his face and added a few strands of gray hair. He laments the fact that time flies and that he has changed a lot compared to six years ago.
Farewell moment with mixed emotions
In the lobby on the first floor, journalists were ready to interview Touba, and three Salon bosses came to see him off. However, very few fans came to see him off. I recalled that on January 7, 2004, when Touba arrived at the Jinan airport, the fans welcomed him and the team leaders greeted him personally.
The final dialog, slightly perfunctory
Touba is about to leave and the journalists want to finish their last interview. As the interpreter Yao Jie had already returned to Beijing, we asked our agent Wen Jiaqing to act as a temporary interpreter. Touba seemed to have some reservations, and Wen Jiaqing was always perfunctory when it came to sensitive questions.
Will Touba be able to return? My hunch is that he is unlikely to remain in charge of Luneng. Sure enough, the following year, Croatian manager Ivankovic took over the reins of the Taishan team.
Touba briefly took over as head coach of Wuhan Zall in April 2013, and led the team to Jinan for a game in July, which was the last time I saw him. Fans came out to greet him and the team held a unique ceremony. However, due to the strength gap, Wuhan lost 1:4.
Tuba left. I couldn't see him off.
When Tuba left again, I could not see him off. This farewell may never be repeated.
