(From Page 1)

    For many expatriate players, especially newcomers to the city, the soccer field is a place to meet new friends.

    Nick Thompson, chairman of Shenzhen International Amateur Football League (SIAFL), said it’s difficult to keep finding new fields for its tournament, and Lianhua Hill was the best such facility.

    “I myself and other expat players had been playing at that pitch for eight to 10 years, very happily. It is very convenient to play there, in the center of Futian, because of good transportation that links it to the rest of the city. It is very convenient for us, whether we live in Luohu, Nanshan or Longhua, to meet at this place,” said Thompson.

    Thompson’s SIAFL, a nonprofit soccer association for expatriates, had had eight soccer clubs with more than 100 players.

    “If commercial projects are developed there, I think the government should open some small-sized football pitches on open floors to meet the demands of both sides,” Thompson suggested, citing Hong Kong as an example.