Sports / Soccer
Chelsea heading to China in 2008
(AFP)
Updated: 2007-02-13 19:46
BEIJING - A full-strength Chelsea squad will tour China next year as part
of its long-term plans to forge links with the world's most populous
nation.
Michael Woods (R) of Chelsea and Lei Wei of Team China jump for the ball
during a friendly match at Brentford's Griffin Park stadium in west
London, 5 February. [AFP]
The announcement culminates Chelsea's hosting of China's Olympic team
over the past fortnight on a tour marred by a mass brawl in a match
against Queens Park Rangers.
Chelsea's business affairs director Paul Smith said the Premier League
champions were committed to helping China develop its football and would
tour in the year Beijing hosts the Olympics.
"Team China have been excellent guests and we have really enjoyed their
visit. We hope we have been hosts of a similar calibre because next year
the process will be reversed," he was quoted as saying on the Chelsea
website.
"As part of our commitment to developing football in China, Chelsea will
be touring in China in 2008.
"We will be taking our first team and playing games on the mainland."
He added that while Chelsea wanted to forge links between the club and
China, it would also aid development of the Chinese game.
"This is a long term project and Team China is a work in progress.
Hopefully we are witnessing the development of the team day-by-day."
Chelsea are in partnership with the Chinese Football Association to train
grassroots players, and also have their eye on the country's huge
untapped market.
Last month, it signed an agreement with top Chinese Internet portal
Sina.com to become the first premiership club to set up a website in
Chinese run from China.
Chelsea's involvement in Asia is part of chief executive Peter Kenyon's
plan launched in 2004 to make his club the world's more recognizable
brand in football within 10 years.
It started with a huge shirt sponsorship deal with South Korean
conglomerate Samsung in 2005.
China manager Li Xiaoguang said his side had learned a lot from its time
with Chelsea.
"As we all know, the United Kingdom is the home of the modern football
game," he said.
"As we have had the chance to train in Chelsea Football Club, our players
have had the chance to broaden their horizons and improve their levels.
"We have laid a wonderful foundation for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games."
China's team has spent the past two weeks based at Chelsea's training
headquarters but their tour was overshadowed by a brawl involving more
than 30 players and members of the coaching staff from both their side
and QPR.
Seven Chinese players were sent home with the China Football Association
vowing "strict" punishment.
The rest of the team flies home later this week.
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