Peng envisions bright future through conjuring up past

Former national star hopes to inspire new generation through Apollo Cup, writes Qiu Quanlin

It is not all about reliving the glory days. Former Chinese national soccer player Peng Weiguo hopes an invitational tournament featuring stars from the nation's top league in the 1990s will also help boost the game's development by inspiring more people to take part in the sport.

"Many former star players will take part in the game. And we hope more people will be influenced by it," Peng said.

The first "Apollo Cup" invitational tournament, which includes six teams - from Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Sichuan and Shaanxi - will be held between Nov 25-Dec 1 at the Yuexiushan Stadium in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

A number of former stars including Peng, Gao Feng, Li Bing, Hu Zhijun, Hao Haidong and Fan Zhiyi from the Jia-A League will play for their original teams in the event.

"Some former players are now involved in businesses that have nothing to do with soccer. This game will bring us back together," Peng said.

"By bringing more former stars back to the stadium, we hope more and more people will get involved in soccer. And this will help inspire a push to further develop Chinese soccer."

Earlier this year, Peng met some former players to discuss the organizing of such a tournament.

The event will become an annual one from next year, which would mark the 20th anniversary of the Jia-A League, according to Peng.

"Many cities are already competing for the right to host next year's tournament since they realize how important the event's role is in helping boost local soccer development," Peng said.

In 2008 and 2011, Peng also organized friendly games, which were played between the former Guangzhou Apollo club, which he used to play for, and the 1997 national team.

"The games were held to bring back good memories for us former players and the supporters," Peng said.

At the 2008 game in Guangzhou, more than 20,000 spectators flocked to Yuexiushan Stadium.

"It was like returning home. I enjoyed it and hope to visit the stadium more often in the years ahead," he said.

Yuexiushan, located in the downtown area of Guangzhou, used to be one of country's main soccer stadiums in the 1990s.

"Perhaps the stadium is the most popular place in the country's soccer history," Peng, dubbed the 'King of Yuexiushan', said.

It was in the stadium that the Guangzhou team finished second in the 1994-95 season and Peng was adjudged the best player in the national league at the time.

Peng also played a decisive role for the national team, aiding China to a runner-up finish at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan.

"The Chinese professional league, which was launched in 1994, gave us fame as well as fortune. And today we should do something to help future development," Peng said.

After the 1996-97 season, Peng moved to Chongqing in Southwest China where he was unable to live up to expectations and only scored six goals in 25 appearances.

Two years later, he returned to Guangdong with Shenzhen Ping'an, where he played a few matches before being offered a coaching position.

After retiring in 2001, Peng branched out into the restaurant business.

However, the veteran was never completely happy away from the field.

"Compared with doing business, I am more interested in playing soccer and I find more happiness at the ground," he said.

Born in 1971 in Guangzhou, Peng now serves as the head coach of the second-tier team of the Guangzhou club, which is now known as Guangzhou Evergrande.

"I am a native of Guangzhou. And I do hope that it will continue its glory in China's soccer history by developing more young talent. You know that Guangzhou, perhaps, has the largest number of soccer supporters in the country," he said with pride.

(China Daily 10/27/2012 page15)