In an interview with Lifeweek Magazine, Yao Ming, the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, pointed out a fundamental issue within the Chinese basketball community: its closed nature. He suggested that what’s needed is a more diverse environment. And it seems, Chinese football is no exception to this rule.
Having worked as a translator for a professional football team for three months, I had the unique opportunity to observe the ecosystem of Chinese football from an outsider’s perspective. An amusing incident occurred during the preseason when the team was taking a group photo. Only the foreign fitness coach and I were wearing glasses at the time. The team leader asked me to remove mine and conveyed the same request to the foreign coach in German. However, the coach pretended not to understand and kept his glasses on for the photo. He later expressed his annoyance, mentioning that many excellent players abroad wear glasses, such as Edgar Davids, and he found the request unacceptable. Ironically, the team captain also wears glasses due to nearsightedness but usually opts for contact lenses.
On one hand, wearing glasses in a sports team is often perceived as lacking masculinity. On the other hand, through daily interactions, it’s apparent that many Chinese coaches view those who wear glasses as intellectuals, fundamentally different from themselves. This explains the insistence on removing glasses for the team photo. In an environment that is not just closed but also somewhat anti-intellectual, transitioning from player to coach while trying to maintain a broad perspective and vision proves to be exceedingly difficult. Naturally, reaching a certain level of authority might allow one to bend these perceived realities.
Updated on February 28, 2024