Head Coach for Crystal Palace on Chinese Soccer PlayersAlan Smith, head coach of the England's Crystal Palace, recently said that one of the major characteristics of Chinese soccer players is that they value their family life so much. However, they give themselves up to soccer games rather than cling to their families.Taking Fan Zhiyi for example, said Alan Smith, his life style is much different from that of the local players. He never wastes his time in bars or nightclubs. Yet he always chooses to go back home for getting together with his family members or studying videotapes of soccer games when there is no games or training arranged. He has a very scientific understanding of soccer games. "The soccer team usually has training or games of about 20 days abroad before every competition season", Smith added, "This is really a hot potato for British players. However, if Sun Jihai and Li Ming join us, plus Fan Zhiyi, the atmosphere here will become quite 'enthusiastic'. But they cannot come now. That's really a pity!" Smith said that he couldn't understand the policy of China Football Association (CFA), prohibiting its soccer players in national team to go abroad. He felt regretful for Sun Jihai and Li Ming who cannot come to Britain now. "It's ridiculous for CFA to make such regulations", he said, "I think they did so just for coping with us because they had no such regulations before the Crystal Palace made invitations to Sun and Li". "I feel extremely disappointed about the broken negotiation which has dragged on for too long a time and involved so many people. It is very difficult to make the deal. At last, it came to a failure due to the CFA's intervention." Smith said, "I feel sorry for Sun and Li. They should have served here with pleasure". By PD Online Staff Member Du Minghua |
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