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Former CFA Chief Expect World Cup Success of China
Former president of the Football Association of China (CFA) Nian Weisi expected the national team to win the World Cup in 50 years as the FIFA World Cup was exhibited Tuesday afternoon at the China World Hotel.
"Four years ago I had a picture with the trophy when it came to China for the first time. However, the Chinese team failed to make through to the World Cup Finals at France," said Nian, who was a Chinese international in the 1950s and then acted as the national coach and the CFA president in the 1970s and 1980s.
"This time I will have another picture with the trophy and I will more than excited because China have already reached the World Cup finals." Nian said at the exhibition.
China secured their first appearance in the World Cup finals by winning the World Cup Asian Zone Qualifying Group B earlier October.
"Hopefully the trophy will travel to China for the third and fourth time, and Chinese team will make the top 16, top eight and top four,"
"I wish China could win the World Cup in 50 years," said the 68-year-old Nian.
Chinese assistant coach Shen Xiangfu, who helped Yugoslav head coach Bora Milutinovic to China's victory in the qualifying tournament, attributed the team's success to the hard work of generations of Chinese coaches and players.
"I would like to thank all the former Chinese coaches and players," said Shen. "We will work hard to make the Chinese soccer stronger."
The FIFA World Cup trophy, which had been brought to China in 1997, was on its international exhibition tour organized by FIFA's World Cup partner Budweiser.
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