No shortcut to national success in soccer

Earlier this month, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued a blueprint for the reform and development of soccer, which many believe could change the face of the game in the country.

The program to reform Chinese soccer is a three-step - short-, medium-and long-term - strategy and is aimed at promoting soccer on campus, building playing fields, better managing professional clubs and lotteries, and overhauling the sport's management system. And its ultimate goal is to enable the Chinese men's team to qualify for the World Cup and Olympic Games.

The record of China's men's team may be poor and the standard of soccer played in the country may not be up to international standards, but the reform program has the potential to cure Chinese soccer of its maladies and give it a new, healthy life.