A whole new game for generous Gao

Former Guo'an star has found fulfillment through his charitable work with children in remote areas of China's mountainous west

Gao Leilei has discovered a comfort zone for himself a long way away from the game which made him a household name in Beijing. Wei Xiaohao / China Daily

Editor's Note: Soccer is the world's No 1 sport, and China has its own aims for the game. President Xi Jinping has spoken about his soccer dream: China reaching the World Cup, China hosting the Cup and, ultimately, China winning the coveted trophy. However, the nation still lags far behind in the soccer world. The 2014 Brazil World Cup is just around the corner and we have selected 11 key figures from around the country to tell us about their soccer dreams. The interviews will be on RTHK Putonghua Channel at 4 pm on Sundays through June 8.

What he said "It was my father who passed on to me the (generous) spirit ... so by naming the schools, I want to salute to my father and pass the spirit on to my son." On naming the schools he built in Sichuan after his late father and young son "It's just like how I played the game: I always do the best I can. I think charity is a way to give love to other people. In terms of love, money is definitely not the most important thing." On attributing his generosity to his personality "I have chatted with Yao Ming as he has also devoted a lot of his time doing charity work. Even he is nobody in the remote villages. The kids don't care about who you are, they only care about whether you are willing to join them, chat and play with them." On defying the saying that charity is a job for celebrities "I preferred to stay in a pure environment in which I could really enjoy soccer." On choosing where to play soccer "Maybe it is the deep-rooted Chinese tradition - that seniority must be respected, but on the pitch one should have the attitude that no matter who you are, I will defeat you. Even if Ronaldo stood in front of me I would try to dribble past him." On never being fully embraced by his team or the soccer fraternity "I know it's part of the business culture in China, but soccer players should be judged by their competence. We can fool ourselves, but at the end of the day, we will also be a laughing stock in the soccer world." On the peculiar soccer culture in China

Chinese soccer players are often associated with some of the more unseemly things in life; including corruption, carousing at night clubs late at night and excessive drinking and smoking.

However, there is a former player determined to change that image.

Gao Leilei, a recently retired player who now owns a restaurant, is doing charity work in Mabian Yi Autonomous County, Sichuan province, helping children who live in the remote mountainous villages.

Gao, 33, was born and raised in Beijing. Before playing overseas, he was one of the brightest stars at Beijing Guo'an. Almost every season his goals featured among the top 10 of the year.

But, his off-field endeavors are far more praiseworthy. He has built two primary schools in Sichuan, one in the name of his late father and the other is named after his infant son.

"Yes, it was my father who passed on to me the (generous) spirit," Gao said. "When he was teaching in the university, he would sometimes sell belongings such as bikes and watches just in order to help his students.

"So by naming the schools, I want to salute my father and pass the spirit on to my son," Gao said.

In his final days, Gao's father told him he wanted to donate money to help the underprivileged.

Gao has since dedicated "all he's got" to his charity work. He did not even have a wedding ceremony as he thought the money could be spent more meaningfully. And he donated all the cash gifts from his son's 100-day celebration to a local welfare center.

Many do not understand such self-lessness, but he has put his heart and soul into it nonetheless. He attributes his generosity to his personality.

"It's just like how I played the game: I always do the best I can," Gao said.

Unlike other celebrities, he values company the most when doing his charity work. "I think charity is a way to give love to other people. In terms of love, money is definitely not the most important thing," Gao said.

He learnt that from his five-month-old son.

"I bought lots of new clothes and toys for him, but at the end of the day I found that what he really cared about was how much time I spent with him," Gao said.

It also applies to the children in the villages.

"They are happiest when you go to them, talk and play with them. " Gao said. "Every time I donate money I personally go to the schools. Maybe for one kid, I can only give 100 yuan on average. But it is way more meaningful than just simply transferring 100 yuan to a bank account."

Gao was shocked to find on his initial excursions in this rapidly developing country that there are still places, like Mabian, where children cannot even be properly fed. Many eat the same food as the cattle.

Everytime he goes to those areas now he makes sure he is armed with cream cakes, which the children find delicious.

Just looking at their smiling faces gives Gao an overwhelming sense of of satisfaction.

However, on one such trip, he noticed a boy reluctant to eat the snacks as he wanted to take them home to his parents. That only steeled Gao's resolve.

"From that time I said to myself, next time I must bring more," he said, "and that I needed to donate more to the schools to help the kids change their lives so one day they would be able to buy whatever they want."

There is a common saying that charity is a job for celebrities, but Gao scoffs at that notion and says everyone should take part in the cause.

"I have chatted with Yao Ming as he has also devoted a lot of his time doing charity work. Even he is nobody in the remote villages," Gao said. "The kids don't care about who you are, they only care about whether you are willing to join them, chat and play with them. Then they feel like they have a relative taking care of them from afar. That is what I want to achieve through my charity work.

"'Charity' may be too big a word, but it is all around us," Gao said. "Every time you help others, even with just a bottle of water, it is charity. You don't need to be rich or famous to do it."