How do you see the game growing over the coming years in China? Can you see it becoming a world leader?
Already in the last five-years football in China has grown exponentially. Players such as Carlos Tevez and Oscar that have played at a high level of football in the English top flight have also played in the Chinese Super League (CSL). Despite the recent transfer regulations for recruiting players in China, the game will still grow hugely in the next 10 to 20 years from the grassroots upwards. With the President of China publicly declaring a personal liking for football, as he believes it’s a strong tool to enhance soft power for China, it will no doubt become one of the sports the country will focus on. Therefore, I see not only the CSL growing but also the national team will certainly improve over time. The prospect of China hosting a World Cup tournament, following the Olympics in 2008, is a possibility in the next couple of decades… and perhaps even winning it one day!
What are your career aspirations once you have graduated from UCFB?
My career aspirations when I graduate from UCFB are to be at the heart of the development of the game when China hosts the World Cup. I also want to help in bringing the qualities of European football into China, not to change the Chinese way of doing things but to adapt to it and improve it. With my skill of speaking and writing both Chinese and English, it will give me an advantage and with this, I want to build relationships between England and China.