Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    It took Hassin Bo, an American soccer coach in Shenzhen, one year to build a soccer team from two kids to 98.

    A soccer team aimed at kids in Shenzhen and operated by three expatriate coaches celebrated its one-year anniversary this month.

    “I am delighted to see the team has grown from only two players to a crew of nearly a hundred kids, but we are aiming higher and will strive for better in the coming years,” Bo said.

    The team, named “Wolves Football,” was founded by Bo and two other German coaches in May last year. By adopting a German-style soccer curriculum, the coaches train both local and expatriate kids in basic skills like ball control and advanced skills like shooting.

    “Our training not only focuses on soccer skills, but also aims at cultivating the kids’ good manners as soccer players, bettering their physical condition as well as enhancing their social skills and leadership,” said Bo.

    Among the 98 kids, around 15 players stand out, according to Bo.

    The Wolves placed fifth at the first Shenzhen Youth League, but earned third place and eventually came in first place in the next two tournaments.

    “We joined tournaments and won the title as champions at the Longgang Youth Cup 2016 in March and also the Nanling Youth Cup 2015 last October,” said Bo.

    Bo said he is happy with his team’s growth, but he has met challenges.

    “Chinese kids sometimes are very dependent on their parents who stand outside of the court to cheer them up or give them advice, but I want my players to build their own character on the feild,” said Bo.

    Bo said the longterm goal is to form an official men’s soccer team when the players are adults.