Govt works to boost soccer's profile in country

When Jiang Shuai, a former women's international soccer player, watched children of her junior club practicing on the turf at the Workers' Stadium as part of the sixth National Fitness Day on Aug 8, she never expected a star's visit and his warm words.

The tall, thin figure stepping up was Edwin van der Sar, former Dutch national captain and star goalkeeper of Manchester United, who was invited by a nationwide grassroots soccer tournament, Who's The King, as a guest to take part in the fitness-day promotion.

Thanks to the Who's The King campaign, which was launched on fitness day, amateur soccer players from across the country have a unified of platform to compete against each other while having access to legends like the Dutch star.