"My character just refuses to admit defeat, and I have to do everything well." Ji Shengfa, who had a slight Taiwanese accent on the phone, said seriously.

  Because of the epidemic, Ji Shengfa finally returned to Taipei after half a year after the end of the season to enjoy the time with his family.

  This holiday season, Ji Shengfa is more comfortable than in previous years, because his career is finally on the right track. With the "promoted" Ningbo Debang Holdings won the fifth place in the Futsal Super League, Ji Shengfa was also shortlisted. Candidate for the Chinese Golden Globe Futsal.

  He debuted at the age of 23, and finally completed the first full season of his career at the age of 27. This bumpy road all originated from the darkest moments of 4 years ago.

Ji Shengfa (second from left) in the game.

Photo courtesy of respondents

Choice

  Ji Shengfa started to play football at the age of 12. Since he was later than his peers, after entering the school team in junior high school, Ji Shengfa started to pick up the ball more on the sidelines until the third grade.

It is also this year that Ji Shengfa firmly believes that futsal is the way to go in this life.

  Decisions related to life have never been easy. Ji Shengfa's parents used to be athletes, and they know the hard work best.

"My father just gave up the road of sports in the middle of the journey. Looking back, I felt that it was a pity that he didn't choose to study." Ji Shengfa said.

  Even knowing that this road is not easy, his parents did not force Ji Shengfa to choose to study, but gave him the right to decide.

"If you decide, don't give up, finish this road, or go better." At the intersection of life, his parents told Ji Shengfa.

  "My parents have always supported me in making decisions, maybe because they know my personality, I refuse to admit defeat, and do everything well." Ji Shengfa said.

Ji Shengfa in life.

Photo courtesy of respondents

  Entering the high school physical education class, Ji Shengfa's dream of football has officially begun.

Three years later, Ji Shengfa successfully passed the specialty examination and entered the critical university stage.

  This stage also faces life choices, which is more like a watershed in dreams.

Some people insist on becoming professional players, while others abandon the path of players and choose to become football coaches or even change careers.

Of course, the latter is the path most people choose to take, because becoming a professional player is more like a single-plank bridge for them.

  "The football environment at the time was not very good. Chinese Taipei did not have a professional league. If you want to take a professional path, you have to go to mainland China or abroad. Before, many people went to mainland teams for trial training, but they failed. Our group There were 10 players playing in the quintessence, and 10 players in the elevens. But in the end, I was the only one who chose to play." Ji Shengfa said.

Ji Shengfa took the ball in the game.

Photo courtesy of respondents

  Ji Shengfa, who walked on the single-plank bridge, also hesitated whether to insist on becoming a professional player.

  "After going to university, there is financial pressure. I will not ask my parents for living expenses, but I will rely on myself. But at that time, my classmates could teach children to earn money. They still have living expenses and their living standards are much higher than mine. So. At that time, I was a little confused. Would it make sense to continue playing like this? Since I may not be able to play in a professional league, should I give up early and teach?"

  In the confusion, the encouragement of teachers and seniors gave Ji Shengfa the courage to go on.

"Playing professional football is everyone's dream, not all of them can be realized. If you have the ability, then do it. Don't wait until you are old and regret that you didn't do this thing."

Ji Shengfa in life.

Photo courtesy of the interviewee.

  After persisting, he also received rewards, Ji Shengfa boarded a new stage-the Pearl River Delta Futsal Super League (Pearl Super League).

Ji Shengfa, 19, came to mainland China for the first time.

  "At that time, a group of seniors were developing in the Zhuhai Super League. After they performed well there, they began to pull the juniors to play football. I happened to be the first one." Ji Shengfa said.

  In the team, Ji Shengfa looked a little special. He flew to Macau early on Saturday to join the team and returned to school on Sunday.

Ji Shengfa missed those days very much.

"That feeling was very special at the time. Am I a professional player? Actually not. I have to go back to class, but I play every week. I work hard for the game. I like this feeling."

  There is an appearance fee in the Super League, coupled with the small cost of being busy with training, the financial pressure of Ji Shengfa University has been relieved a lot.

  More importantly, with his performance in the Zhuhai Super League, Ji Shengfa joined the top five Super League team-Shenzhen Nanling Iron Wolf after graduation.

Ji Shengfa in life.

Photo courtesy of respondents

dark

  Ji Shengfa, who had just debuted, reached a high level, but before he could stand firm, he fell into a low point in his life.

Injury, this athlete's natural enemy entangled him.

  That was the darkest moment of Ji Shengfa's career.

At the end of the 2016 Asian Cup against Vietnam, he was eager to help Chinese Taipei tie the score. He was knocked down by the opponent's slippery tackle at the moment of the kick.

  "After I fell down, I realized that it was not a minor injury, and I couldn't stand up." He recalled.

  After a post-match diagnosis, Ji Shengfa's right instep was fractured and he had to cultivate for at least half a year.

At that time, he hadn't even played a game for the Shenzhen team.

  In the hospital bed, Ji Shengfa predicted that the football road would be more difficult in the future, but the reality is far more cruel than he expected.

After waiting for three months to remove the plaster, Ji Shengfa’s right leg muscles atrophied due to prolonged inability to move, making walking difficult.

  Learning to walk, learn to run, then play football, Ji Shengfa, who wants to return to the court as soon as possible, constantly insists on restoring the strength of his main foot.

  Things backfired, and Ji Shengfa failed to return to the court for the entire season.

He suffered serious injuries at the beginning of his career, and the impact on him is self-evident.

  The Shenzhen team is a strong team in the Five Super League, and Ji Shengfa's teammates are among the best in China.

After returning to the training ground, Ji Shengfa was very frustrated due to his physical, technical and strength unable to keep up with the rhythm.

"Do you still want to play football? Why not go back to Taipei and teach the kids like my classmates."

Ji Shengfa in training (first from left).

Photo courtesy of respondents

  Failed to be registered by the Shenzhen team in the league, and failed to find a next home, after negotiating with the team to terminate the contract, Ji Shengfa reluctantly embarked on the road back to Taipei.

  Going to school and the youth training club to take the children to train, Ji Shengfa took the same path as his previous classmates.

In order to make more money, he has to move between several schools and youth clubs every day, without a day off.

  "That's it for the rest of my life." Ji Shengfa, who is struggling for a livelihood, somewhat resigned, and his dream of becoming a professional player is an extravagant hope.

Counterattack

  Life is so wonderful, you can fall into a trough unexpectedly when you are complacent, and you can also see the flames of hope when all your thoughts are lost.

  Ji Shengfa, who had sunk for more than half a year, suddenly received a call from his old teammate.

"Do you want to come to the Ningbo team to try it? Don't put too much pressure. This team is a newly promoted team and will play the fifth Super League in the first year."

  "I felt hope was ignited at the time."

  After receiving a call from an old teammate, Ji Shengfa immediately turned off some youth training club jobs, began training with high school and university teams, and gradually recovered.

  Two months later, Ji Shengfa passed the trial training of the Ningbo team as he wished and returned to that dream stage.

Ji Shengfa (red) played against his former club Shenzhen Nanling Iron Wolf.

Photo courtesy of respondents

  In the first half of the season, Ji Shengfa's performance was not impressive.

  On the one hand, Ji Shengfa, who has been in the battle for a long time, is still recovering.

On the other hand, because the league requires Chinese Taipei players to participate as foreign aids, the players who compete with Ji Shengfa for playing opportunities are strong Brazilian foreign aids.

He will only have a chance to play when his foreign teammates rest.

After half a season, Ji Shengfa scored 2 goals in limited playing time.

  The sudden epidemic cut off the league. After the rematch a few months later, because foreign aid could not return, Ji Shengfa ushered in a chance to play.

  Scored 13 goals in the second half, and scored key goals many times in a tie or behind. Ji Shengfa became one of the newly promoted Ningbo team to win the fifth place and was selected for the China Golden Globe Award. Candidates for futsal players.

Ji Shengfa returned to the Fifth Super League.

Photo courtesy of respondents

  After going around for four years, the 27-year-old Ji Shengfa finally returned to his stage.

"This is my most complete season. Persistence is right." On the phone, he said with emotion.

  When it comes to the future, Ji Shengfa admits that he can't see far.

"It's better to be present, not to mention what will happen in the next few years, first be myself every season and do my best. I enjoy the current state very much. It is very happy to treat my interest as work." (Author Bian Liqun)