China coach furious over 'passionless' team

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-24 09:04

VANCOUVER: China's curling coach, Dan Rafael, blasted his world champion women for a lack of Olympic Games passion on Monday, accusing them of taking their places in the national squad for granted.

Rafael was livid after the team slumped to a 7-4 defeat to Russia, who are second from bottom of the 10-nation group.

"I'm furious. The problem with this team is that they have no passion. It's their job," said Rafael.

"This national team has been together for six or seven years and most of these players have been on the team far too long and take it for granted.

"I don't know who will show up, the team that beat Canada or the team that lost to Russia. China think they can beat Canada and just go home."

Rafael's blast came just hours after the country's curling boss criticised the men's team skip, accusing him of "thinking too much" and being "unable to control his emotions".

China's men's team lost 9-4 to Great Britain to remain rooted to the foot of the 10-nation group with a 1-6 record.

"We have to improve the skip. He worries about the game. He's thinking too much. He can't control his emotions," said team leader Li Dongyan of Wang Fengchun.

"We have to teach him to control his emotions. That is important in life as well as curling. You can study many things in curling that are helpful in life."

Li refused to compare the problems of the men's team to the women's squad which, despite its defeat to Russia, is still handily-placed to make the semifinals.

"The men are a young team. This is their first Olympics," he said. "It is different with the women's team. They have been to five times more championships. They have been in two times as many final games. They have much more experience."

AFP