"This problem, actually, any Chinese person can see it, but no one is willing to say it because it’s too embarrassing. At the same time, the water is too deep."
Chen Feng said, word for word.
"Soccer is too deep?"
"Yes, Chinese soccer is the only sport, much like Chinese politics, where the water is too deep. China’s national conditions are very special, and wherever the water is deep, it’s basically impossible to get things done properly."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"I’d like to hear more."
Lu Zhanming said excitedly.
For decades, he had never understood why the Chinese national football team couldn't qualify for the World Cup based on merit. Since Chen Feng knew, he had to listen carefully to resolve his decade-long confusion.
"Actually, those who initially join the Chinese national football team are all talented young players. However, once they join the Chinese national football team, they are all ruined."
"How can talented soccer players all be ruined after joining the Chinese national football team? What exactly is going on?"
Lu Zhanming asked, utterly bewildered.
"Because the Chinese national football team and the Chinese Football Association, these two institutions, are not for developing soccer. They are two major political arenas that can swallow people without leaving a trace. To put it plainly, the management of the Chinese national football team, the entire Chinese football team, even those sweeping the floors and fetching water for these two major institutions, none of them have their hearts in soccer. They are all focused on political maneuvering. To gain power, these people form cliques and engage in constant infighting. Talented soccer players who enter these two great dye vats are changed within a month."
"Instantly changed? Changed into what?"
"Elder Lu, if you were a player on the Chinese national football team, and you joined the national team, only to discover a series of absurd phenomena, would you still play seriously? You wake up at five to practice, you’ve practiced for three years, and you haven’t had a single chance to play. Conversely, those with connections to the team management, with the Chinese Football Association, can play in matches from day one of joining the Chinese national football team. Would you continue practicing, or would you change direction and do what they do, meticulously finding connections every day? Also, if you discover that secretly exploiting your identity as a Chinese national football team player to do soccer-related business earns you more than playing soccer, would you still honestly play? When you find out that losing a game and getting paid similarly to winning, would you still try your best to win? When you train diligently, your teammates are eating sea cucumbers and getting round bellies. Yet, in the end, those with sea cucumber bellies take the field, while you with your abs are benched. Would you go with the flow and gorge on sea cucumbers, or continue practicing hard? Also, if you find that holding a minor position in the football team earns you more than playing soccer, would you still be willing to play honestly? … All these things only point to one problem: when amateurs lead professionals, it can only be a mess. The management only thinks about making money and gaining fame and profit. The players only think about eating sea cucumbers, entertainment, and finding side income. I am currently just an ordinary staff member in the Chinese political arena and do not have the ability to completely change the Chinese national football team. Because the Chinese national football team is a mess for only one reason: individual high-ranking officials in the Chinese political arena use Chinese soccer to make money, it’s that simple. I have to feel sad for Chinese soccer fans for three minutes. Even though the Chinese national football team is like crap, they still love Chinese soccer, which also allows the higher-ups to make huge profits by exploiting Chinese soccer fans. If not a single person out of the 1.4 billion people liked Chinese soccer anymore, there would be no huge profit from Chinese soccer, and the higher-ups in the Chinese political arena would retract their evil hands from Chinese soccer. The golden age of Chinese soccer would instantly return, and at that time, there would be no more shameless sea cucumber men in Chinese soccer, only true Chinese soccer powerhouses. Qualifying for the World Cup would be a piece of cake. The question is, who is willing to give up such a massive Chinese soccer market?"
Chen Feng sighed softly. Although he was not interested in soccer, he felt heartbroken every time he saw Chinese fans cheering for foreign teams. If the Chinese national football team could show even a little bit of spirit, it would be as easy as playing for a team of 1.4 billion people against a team of a few million. However, it was inconceivable that a team of 140 million Chinese people could not even defeat a small team of a few million. Even fantasy novels wouldn’t dare to be this absurd.
"Elder Chen, after hearing what you said, I understand everything. I also realize that this mess that is the Chinese national football team cannot be changed at the moment. Once China's high-level interest groups have their sights set on the Chinese national football team, how can it possibly develop well? We can only hope that in over a decade, influential figures with strong national honor like you ascend to power, and then the disgraceful state of Chinese soccer can be changed."
Lu Zhanming said in deep agreement.
"However, to be fair, I have no辦法 to help the Chinese national football team. But I definitely have methods for the soccer team under your chamber of commerce. If you use my methods, you can absolutely make this soccer team directly win the provincial league championship."
Chen Feng said seriously.
"Elder Chen, is that true or not?"
Lu Zhanming asked excitedly.
"Of course it's true. There's no need for me to lie to you. Of course, I won't take this team. I’ll just help you develop this team, create a real soccer atmosphere and excitement in Sanshui Province, and at the same time, make money."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"I’d like to hear more, Elder Chen."
Lu Zhanming asked expectantly.
"It’s very simple, disband the soccer team under the chamber of commerce."
Chen Feng said calmly, word for word.
"What? Disband the soccer team under the chamber of commerce? If the team is disbanded, what’s the point of playing?"
Lu Zhanming asked, utterly confused.
"Mr. Lu, please don't rush. It’s like this, disbanding the team doesn’t mean we stop playing, but rather to re-establish a soccer team."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"What? Re-establish a soccer team? Elder Chen, I don’t think your method is very feasible, really. Although this team’s performance isn’t great, every player is a talented player. If we discard all of them, who will play?"
Lu Zhanming asked, bewildered.
"Mr. Lu, the reason why Chinese soccer is not played well is that there are too many people with your kind of thinking. Truly, being unwilling to discard the trash. What talented players? If they lose matches frequently, no matter how good the player is, they are trash, it’s that simple."
Chen Feng said sternly.
"That makes sense, but if we really dismiss all these people, where can we find capable players?"
Lu Zhanming continued to ask, perplexed.
"It's simple, issue recruitment. To put it concisely, if they win a small match, each person gets a reward of 100,000. If they win a medium match, each person gets a reward of 1 million. If they win a large match, each person gets 10 million. It's as simple and brutal as that. As for management, discard all of them. What need is there for management in a sport? Every player likes to win and earn bonuses, so they will naturally play with all their might and don’t need someone specifically to manage them. By the way, anyone who joins the team will have all other avenues for earning money blocked. They can only earn money by winning, otherwise, they get nothing."
"This method is very good, but what if some people don’t care about money?"
Lu Zhanming asked softly.
"That’s also simple. If they don’t care about money, we don’t recruit them. We specifically go to poor districts to recruit football enthusiasts with soccer skills, and then hire expensive, skilled coaches to teach them. These poor people may never earn a million in their lives, but they can earn it in one match. They will definitely practice like crazy."
Chen Feng explained.
"Wow, this idea is brilliant! However, there is one small problem that needs to be solved. Once this small problem is solved, the soccer team under the chamber of commerce will definitely take off…"
Lu Zhanming said earnestly.