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China guns for big gains in Asian Cup play
The 2004 Asian Cup trophy handover ceremony was held in Beijing on May 30. Peter Velappan, secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), received the silverware from the representative of Japan, champion of the 2000 tournament, and handed it to Yan Shiduo, vice-president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). It marked the first time Asia's most prestigious football trophy has come to China. Meanwhile, Velappan confirmed the next Asian Cup will be held after just three years. "The next tournament will be in 2007; it will then return every four years. The Asian Cup now is in the same year with European Championship and America's Cup. It is not good for Asia's football development," he said. This year's Asian Cup will be the last one held in an even year since the competition was launched in 1956. Velappan also disclosed the 2007 tournament will be hosted by a Southeast Asia nation, and he expects this year's event will be well received in China. "I hope China will take good care of the trophy, and make sure it is not stolen," he joked. But Velappan was serious about the host nation's success. "The memory of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea is still fresh. Both countries established themselves and also won honour for Asian football. I hope China can create the same image for the country and also for Asian football," he said. In reply to whether China will make the event a big success, Velappan said fans play a key role. "After Japan and Korea advanced into the World Cup final stage, both of them were happy and didnot think of further achievement. It was the football fans who inspired them into the final 16 and the semi-finals," he said. "Chinese fans can learn from the Korea's 'red' fans and Japan's 'blue' and inspire Chinese teams higher and higher." Matches will be played in Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu and Ji'nan. "I hope every match will attract at least 20,000 spectators. I hope a new record of spectators will be made," said Velappan. Zhang Jilong, vice-chairman of the CFA, also expressed high expectations for China's first-ever Asian Cup tournament. "From May to the last day of the event, the trophy will be in China. But I hope it will be kept forever and ever in China's hands," Zhang said. "Of course, to achieve that, our teams must show significant improvement. We are facing a new challenge of how to make our football a great success at this event," Zhang added. |
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