President hopes to broaden exchanges with German teams

China should focus more on developing and promoting soccer among youth, President Xi Jinping said after he and First Lady Peng Liyuan took time out from his first state visit to Europe to watch the Sino-German Junior Football Friendship Match in Berlin Stadium on Saturday.

Xi also told a group of Chinese soccer players, who were about age 10, in Germany on an exchange program that he hopes China's youth will produce outstanding players, including international stars.

He told the children that training in Germany will influence their lives.

"(It) will play a guiding role in the development of China's youth soccer and make more youngsters devoted to soccer," Xi said.

He also pledged to promote soccer exchanges between China and Germany.

Xi has been pushing for the sport's development in China. The national team - once a star in Asia - has declined over the past 20 years.

The Chinese leader has made several public comments on his wishes for the game's development.

Xi told Alain Perrin, who was just appointed chief coach of China's national football team, at a reception earlier this week in Paris that "Chinese football fans have placed high expectations" on him.

The 57-year-old French coach's main task will be leading the team to compete in the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

"I wish him good luck," Xi said.

China's Zhidan Junior Football Team was selected from more than 5,000 children aged 10 to 14 in Zhidan county, Shaanxi province - Xi's hometown.

They were sponsored by Volkswagen Group China, which participated in the Rainbow Bridge program conducted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The program is intended to establish bridges among various possibilities and networks available to major companies and the social needs of China's revolutionary bases.

Before the friendship match, Zhidan's team trained for several days with German champion youth team VfL Wolfsburg in the German soccer club's headquarters.

Joint training camps' objective is to promote exchange between Germany and China, and offer young people professional sports coaching.

Wang Maomao was too excited to fall asleep on Friday night.

"I knew I'd play soccer in the presence of our President Xi. I feel so proud," she said on Saturday.

The 11-year old was the youngest of her team's five girls, yet also the lineup's star.

"This German trip will be a highlight of my whole life, for sure," she said.

"And the president's attention to us further strengthens my determination to become a professional player."

China's State General Administration of Sport deputy director Cai Zhenhua told China Daily before the friendship match that: "Children are fundamental to soccer development. We expect and encourage more schools in China to make sports a key focus in comprehensive education."

Volkswagen AG board of management chairman Martin Winterkorn said: "Football links people throughout the world. That has been very clear today. I am very pleased that Volkswagen is able to open up new prospects for young people through football as part of social projects."

The Zhidan soccer association's head Ding Changbao said the group not only provides student trainings conducted by amateur coaches but also organizes regular tournaments among primary and middle schools.

"This makes soccer a sport for all children," Ding said.

"We have recently started to provide soccer-related games to local kindergartens to arouse enthusiasm from younger ages."

VfL Wolfsburg Football School head Roy Prager said the Chinese students exceeded his expectations.

"I was surprised by these youth players' skills and their enthusiasm, though they live in less-developed areas," he said.

"Some of them are even capable of becoming professional football players. I really hope that I can soon go to China to participate in the training program for those children and invite more young players who love football to Germany."

VfL Wolfsburg vice-director of sales Andreas Kruse said the coaches have identified some budding players with potential among the kids. They intend to invite one - especially a kid with talent at using his or her left leg - to join the VfL Wolfsburg youth team on a trial basis.

VfL Wolfsburg plans to hold training camps for young talent and enthusiasts in Shanghai and Jilin's provincial capital Changchun this year. It also hopes to establish permanent soccer schools in China to help promote the sport among kids.

"We hope our efforts will help these impressive children fulfill their Chinese dream of being a true football player," Kruse said.

Zhang Haohao, a 13-year-old defender, said the three-day training helped him improve a lot, "especially on finding the right position to work the field".

"And meeting VfL Wolfsburg players inspired me to put more effort into training," Zhang said.

"I dream of becoming such a professional."

Contact writers at wujiao@chinadaily.com.cn and lifangfang@chinadaily.com.cn.

From left: CEO of German carmaker Volkswagen Martin Winterkorn, President Xi Jinping and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan wave during a friendly football match on March 29, 2014 in Berlin. AFP

(China Daily 03/30/2014 page1)