China News Service Client, Meizhou, June 16 (Reporter Bian Liqun) After hitting the door frame in two consecutive games and drawing 1:1 with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Cangzhou Lions, the newly-promoted Meizhou Hakka finally played against Shenzhen's "Guangdong". Derby" won the first Chinese Super League victory in team history.
The point of qualitative change mentioned by Meizhou Hakka head coach Milan Ristic has finally arrived.
Then they tied Beijing Guoan 2:2 with one player less, and drew with Chengdu Rongcheng 0:0, becoming the only undefeated team after the first round of the Chinese Super League Meizhou Division.
The team's pleasing playing style also made many fans feel that they played the style of southern football.
Cao Yang, general manager of Meizhou Hakka Football Club.
Photo by Chinanews reporter Bian Liqun
In the past 9 years, Meizhou Hakka has experienced the ebb and flow of Chinese football's "golden dollar" from the Second Division to the Chinese Super League, but it has always developed steadily into what it is today.
How did this professional team rooted in Wuhua County, Meizhou City develop into a "clear stream" of the Chinese Super League all the way?
Sino-Singapore Sports started a dialogue with Cao Yang, general manager of Meizhou Hakka Football Club, with such questions.
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Playing Team Football"
China-Singapore Sports: Coach Milan Ristic once said to play team football. Is this also what you want from the team? Why?
Cao Yang:
Yes, I clearly proposed to the team to play team football.
After being promoted to the Chinese Super League this year, the number of foreign players has increased, and five can be registered.
Overall, our budget is not too high. After the increase in domestic aid, I hope that the foreign aid introduced can play team football, and at the same time, Chinese players can be integrated into it.
There used to be a saying that "the Chinese Super League relies on foreign aid", and I don't want my team to be like this.
China-Singapore Sports: Some fans say that Meizhou Hakka has a southern style of football, which has become a highlight of the Chinese Super League this season. What do you think of this evaluation?
Cao Yang: Nanpai
football may be an old saying in the past. I still hope that the team will adhere to the game policy of "maintaining me" and at the same time be able to achieve a certain degree of control.
Meizhou Hakka team's 2013 season (initial season) family portrait.
Photo by Chinanews reporter Bian Liqun
"There will be more and more professional teams at the county level"
China-Singapore Sports: As a Chinese Super League team in the county town, and with such a complete field and echelon, what do you think supports these?
Cao Yang:
The club started preparations in 2012 and was formally established at the end of that year. The current scale cannot be achieved without the football mass base here, as well as the long-term support of the government, including the stable investment of our club investor Wei Jinping. Let us operate healthily.
The club investor is very sentimental about football, and he also wants to make some contributions to his hometown Wuhua County.
You can also see that this football club has had an impact on Meizhou City and Wuhua County. In this relatively underdeveloped area, our football club has indeed made due contributions.
China-Singapore Sports: Many small towns in advanced football countries have professional teams and even top league teams. Do you think there will be more and more "Wuhua counties" in Chinese football?
Cao Yang:
I think there will be more and more. Now, in our China Second League (the third level), there are actually many teams from county-level cities.
Of course, whether these county-level teams can play in the Super League in the future is not too much in my opinion. After all, there are only 18 teams in the top league, and the competition is fierce.
In addition, if you want to achieve this, you have to hope that the cost of playing Chinese professional football will not increase.
Huitang Stadium in Wuhua County, Meizhou.
The stadium is named after the football king Li Huitang.
Image source: IC photo
"Rational and stable development is very important"
China-Singapore Sports: In the past 9 years, the club has also experienced the golden and Yuan era of Chinese football. How did the Meizhou Hakka "endure loneliness" and continue to work rationally?
Cao Yang:
In fact, the golden stage of Chinese football in the past 10 years has also enhanced the influence of football among fans.
At that time, the investors gave me some budget, but with our strength, it is impossible to have huge investment, we can only operate rationally and maintain stability.
China-Singapore Sports: Now that the club has gradually taken shape, what is the biggest emotion when you look back on this journey at the current node?
Cao Yang:
As a football player, I am engaged in a profession I love, and I enjoy it very much. Now I have a sense of accomplishment.
Especially in 2013 and 2014, we fell to the last stage in a row and failed to make it to the Chinese League One. At that time, I really felt very guilty, but the investors continued to support the club and gave me a lot of trust, and the team also able to develop steadily and continuously into what it is today.
Football elements in the office building of Meizhou Hakka Football Club.
Photo by Chinanews reporter Bian Liqun
"The future is based on local culture"
China-Singapore Sports: What is the system of the Meizhou Hakka echelon and how many echelons are there?
Cao Yang:
Most of the children in our echelon are from Meizhou City. After being promoted to the Chinese Super League, the club has attracted some players from outside Meizhou City and even outside the province.
There are a total of 9 echelons from the reserve team to the youngest 2013 age group.
These players are basically selected from various schools, sports schools and private youth training institutions in Meizhou City.
China-Singapore Sports: Have the children who have played football in the past two years improved in their abilities?
Cao Yang:
This year is the fifth year that our club has engaged in youth training. I think there are many good young children in the age group after 2008, because we started it since childhood and followed up the whole process.
The entrance ceremony for the match of the Chinese Super League Meizhou Division.
Photo by Chinanews reporter Bian Liqun
China-Singapore Sports: In your ideal, what should the club develop into?
Cao Yang:
This year is our first year in the Chinese Super League, and we hope to gain a firm foothold.
In the future, we will still be based on the local culture, and we hope to return to normal home and away games as soon as possible, so as to bring the joy of football to the majority of fans, especially the Hakka people.
China-Singapore Sports: At present, many Chinese Super League teams have weak self-hematopoietic ability, which is one of the reasons why the team is facing an existential crisis. What plans does Meizhou Hakka have in terms of commercialization?
Cao Yang:
Because this year is the first year to become a Chinese Super League team, it is a relatively weak link for us in terms of operation and commercial promotion. We will study this aspect and apply it to the daily work of the club as soon as possible.
We will also work hard to undertake more games in the football town, and use this part of the revenue to return it to the first team.
(Finish)