Sun still shining for China's top woman player
(Agencies)
Updated: 2003-09-15 11:27

Sun Wen might have turned 30 and may be in the twilight of her career, but the woman famously known as "Maradona in a skirt" still has fire burning in her belly.

The diminutive architect of many of the Chinese national women's team's triumphs, Sun will take the field in the United States this month at the Women's World Cup for what is expected to be her swansong.

"Definitely. I'm getting too old," she said recently when asked if the tournament would her last on the world stage.

Her rise to the top didn't come easy.

Whisked off to sports school at age 13, Sun Wen spent the next 15 years sharing a dorm room with teammates and enduring endless regimentation of nearly every aspect of her life.

Then in late 2000 the China Football Association finally allowed its players into the American women's soccer league and Sun was one of the first to be snapped up. The Shanghai goal poacher went on to win acclaim.

Her stature in the game is reflected in the awards she has collected, including being voted FIFA female co-player of the 20th century along with American Michelle Akers.

She was also voted second to American Mia Hamm in the 2001 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, and was the first woman to named Asian Football Player of the Year.

As top scorer at the last World Cup in 1999, Sun's presence in the Chinese team still has defenders quaking in their boots, although the humble scoring machine knows the clock is ticking.

She says she wants to finish her studies in international relations and work on her English, but if she has her way she won't be leaving football altogether when she finally decides to hang up her boots.

"I've spent my life around football, and I'd hate to give it up," she told Fifaworld.com.

"I'm preparing to take a coaching qualification, but whether or not I will become a coach will depend on what opportunities come up."

She has the qualities and will bring considerable experience to any team she manages.

Asked recently what she would tell Chinese officials about what she had learnt from playing in America, she pointed to the bonding between women on the football pitch.

"I want to tell them how important it is for players to share feelings with teammates and be a part of the team because it is important for a team to share and to play for each other," Sun said.