Du Zhaocai said that the successful bid for the Asian Cup four years after the implementation of the “overall plan for the reform and development of Chinese football” played a positive role in promoting the reform and development of Chinese football.
Xinhua News Agency, Paris, June 4th, interview Du Zhaocai: the Asian Cup provides a platform to show China’s responsibilities and obligations
Xinhua News Agency reporter Su Bin
the special congress of the Asian Football Association held in Paris on the 4th confirmed that China won the right to host the 2023 Asian Cup. Du Zhaocai, director of FIFA, deputy director of the State Sports General Administration and Party secretary of the Chinese Football Association, who attended the special congress, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua news agency reporters, holding the Asian Cup provides a good platform for promoting the development of Chinese football and also shows China’s responsibilities and obligations in international affairs.
The bid for the Asian Cup in 2023 was officially launched in 2016. As the only bid country, China’s right to host was confirmed at the FIFA special congress on that day.
Du zhaicai said that the successful bid for the Asian Cup four years after the implementation of the “overall plan for the reform and development of Chinese football” played a positive role in promoting the reform and development of Chinese football.
“Football, as a sport, has unique functions in building national sports culture, economic and social development, national fitness and shaping national spirit. It is very necessary and a good platform to promote the development of Chinese football through the Asian Cup.” Du Zhaocai said that no matter in terms of the improvement of competitive level or the popularity of the masses, including the promotion of youth training and social football, it is a very good platform and opportunity.
The initial sponsors of the Asian Cup were China, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand. Indonesia and Thailand withdrew one after another, and the Korean Football Association also sent a letter to the Asian Football Association last month to withdraw the application for holding the 2023 Asian Cup.
Du Zhaocai said to this, “it is China’s responsibility and obligation to hold such a football event, and to undertake such work in international affairs, it also meets the expectations of other Asian countries and FIFA.”
He said that after the bid is successful, he will actively and carefully make the next plan. In terms of competition organization, according to the requirements of the Asian Football Association, combined with the national conditions and football development plan, especially the implementation and promotion of the “overall plan for the reform and development of Chinese football”, the preparatory plan for the Asian Cup is well planned.
Du Zhaocai said that holding the Asian Cup will promote the development of Chinese football hardware and venue facilities, promote national fitness and social football, including the “people’s football” designed by the Chinese Football Association “, it will get a good opportunity for development.
“We will also take this opportunity to plan and design the youth training work. Through four years of hard work, youth training strives to reach a new level, laying a good foundation for the long-term development of Chinese football.” He said that he believes that with the support and help of all parties and the hard work of football players, Chinese football will continue to develop and progress.
The Chinese Football Association accepted the professional qualification certificate of the FIFA coach Convention issued by the Asian Football Association on the 2nd. Du zhaicai believes that this measure is of great significance to the long-term development of Chinese football and the training of coaches.
“The core of sports development is the training of coaches and the improvement of coaches, including the expansion of coaches, which is the core link.” He said that after several years of efforts, the training conditions and level of Chinese coaches have been fully recognized by the professionals of the Asian Football Association. It has formed a team of coaches and lecturers combining China and foreign countries, and the training conditions in colleges and universities have also reached the standards and requirements of FIFA.
Du zhaicai said: “FIFA gives China full trust and support. Currently, only China, Japan and Qatar have obtained this permission, this is of great significance to the long-term development of Chinese football and the training of coaches. It is very rare. In the future, the coach training system will take a new step.”