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Enthusiastic crowd was an extra challenge

By Tang Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-20 07:58

GUANGZHOU - After two landslide victories on its way to a gold medal, the Chinese 5-a-side football team found itself in a little trouble.

Although spectators were required to keep quiet during games, some couldn't help cheering when the Chinese players had opportunities to score a goal.

"We were affected by the crowd because we have to listen to our guide when we are attacking," said 19-year-old Zheng, who is congenitally blind. "But they were cheering for us and we just had to get over it."

Zheng, who won a silver medal with the team at the 2008 Paralympics, found the net in the opener when China defeated Japan 3-0 before its 4-0 victory against Korea in the second preliminary match.

It is difficult for blind players to learn soccer when they start.

"It's very hard for them at first," said Lu Shangji, team manager of the Chinese side.

"Even us able-bodied people wouldn't be able to find the right direction if we had our eyes covered."

Blind players have to judge the position of the ball and the goal by sounds and instructions.

The ball is specially made to make a sound when it's moving and a guide standing behind the opponent's goal tells his players where the net is when they are attacking or have a free kick or a penalty by knocking different bars according to which player has the ball.

According to Lu, there are hundreds of registered blind footballers in 26 provinces and regions around China, and most of the teams are affiliated to schools for the blind.

"Blind people have a relatively small social circle, so setting up teams in schools is the easiest way to get them together," said Lu.

"Football is a team game which requires a lot of coordination and practice, so even when they start working after graduation they come back to the schools to play."

Mainly made up of players who competed at the 2008 Paralympics, the Chinese team trained at Fujian province for more than seven weeks to prepare for their first Asian Para Games.

China Daily