Timo Boll's advice for Chinese football
Updated: 2015-04-14 13:36
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
Xinhua: "Who won?"
Boll: (laughing) "You could see the guys all had an eye for a ball - no matter what size."
Xinhua: You yourself had a brilliant football career?
Boll: "I wouldn't call it a career and it was far from being brilliant - first of all, because it was too short. I was a striker in the U-9s and U-11s at a little club called TSV 1875 Hoechst."
Xinhua: Did you score a goal?
Boll: "Not only one, there were several goals; in one year I was the top-scorer. But in the end, it was the best decision to stick to table tennis."
Xinhua: You are German, but spend a lot of time in China. Do you see any similarities regarding the people?
Boll: "The Chinese are in many ways similar to the Germans. They are hard-working and success-orientated - and meanwhile they have various opportunities to build their working lives. The people are very focused on furthering themselves, they open themselves up and get on. The speed of developments in China is extraordinary and I'm sure you will soon see that in football too. When I came to China for the first time in 1997, I saw how hard the people work. I did not hear many complaining about the circumstances but I saw many with an open mind doing the best they could - and that was something hugely impressive for me."
Xinhua: Is there anything which you would regard as being exceptionally important in your sports career? Something you would say is important for both table-tennis and football?
Boll: "That's hard to say and maybe something very specific for each and every athlete. So I can only speak for myself. Fair play is something which is indispensable - I would never want to win a game if the victory was not truly mine. I think that is something which relevant for every sport."
Related Stories
Chinese soccer embarks on new journey 2015-03-08 09:57
President Xi pins high hopes on Chinese soccer 2015-02-28 18:12
Big names make contributions to Chinese soccer 2015-02-03 17:21
Chinese soccer clubs ramp up spending on foreign talents 2015-01-07 13:15
Young Chinese soccer players join stars 2014-07-20 07:36
Bitter truth about Chinese soccer 2014-07-08 09:19
Today's Top News
Spotlight set to shine on royal sibling
Stronger yuan boosts tourism
Exhibition recalls zoo wardens who hid dozens of Jews
Germanwings flight canceled after bomb threat
Failed developer shoots dead 3, injuries 2 in Milan
Creating climate change solutions through entrepreneurship
Tremendous opportunities created for Dutch businesses in China
Belgium's mixed signals to China
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |
Conca set to return to China |