The Forever World Star of China

    Do you think that the Chinese football team had been one of the strongest teams in Asia and even in the world? Most of you can hardly agree with me, but after you have learnt more about Lee Wai Tong, a legendary football player, you will surely change your mind.

    Lee Wai Tong was born in Hong Kong in 1905. Since he was a child, he already loved playing football and always practised himself. He started his football career with South China. He was soon shot to stardom because he was a highly talented striker. When he was seventeen, he was included in the team’s first team.

    Since 1925, he had been playing for the China national team, which won the Far Eastern Games in 1925, 1927, 1930 and 1934. In 1936, he led the team to compete in the Berlin Olympics. The team was money-strapped and had to perform around Asia to gain enough capital before they could travel to Berlin. Albeit they have met many obstacles, Lee didn’t give up.

    In 1948, he was appointed as the coach of the national team. Besides, he also coached the Hong Kong national teams. In 1954, he led the national team and helped it to become the champion of the Asian Games. That year, China beat South Korea easily by scoring 5:2. China won the Game consecutively in 1958 since she beat South Korea again.

    In 1965 he became the first Chinese vice-president of FIFA. In the 1970s, he helped Taiwan to develop her first women soccer team and the team played with excellence. He passed away in 1979 and most people still admire him nowadays. His enthusiasm for football will never die and can encourage Chinese football players to be the shining stars in the world forever. Even you are not interested in football, his patriotism is also worth learning from. During the Second World War, the Japanese team had invited him to play for Japan, but he refused the invitation without any hesitation.

    I believe, Chinese football, will one day shine in the world again!