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Interview: Shanghai Shenhua former manager spotlights rise of football in China

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Football veteran and former Argentine manager of China's Shanghai Shenhua football team, Sergio Batista, sees the sport steadily growing in the Asian country, with the Super League bolstering its "competitivity."

Batista, who coached Argentina's Olympic football team to a gold medal win at the 2008 Beijing Games, touted the cooperation between the two countries on the football field.

As part of the sports exchange, top Argentine teams Boca Juniors and River Plate have signed agreements to train China's young football stars.

"Certainly, the Argentine players can offer all of their experience as far as football is concerned, promoting discipline and respect for football in the country. I hope the exchange works out well, because they are both great countries," Batista, 52, said via email.

"From my three years of experience in Chinese football, (I can say) its rise is evident every day, in organization (and) future projects with people who know what they want for football," added Batista, who managed Shanghai Shenhua from 2012 to 2014.

"The league is growing in terms of competitivity, with good teams and players," he said. "There are many Chinese players who are in good shape and have good technique. I believe there is a change in mentality among the players and managers of the teams that will surely lead in the future to seeing Chinese players not just in Argentina, but in many countries around the world."

Given his positive experience with the Chinese people, Batista offered to take on other tasks in China, saying "if I can contribute ... I will certainly be available in case needed." On May 8th, however, press reported he has agreed to a two-year contract as manager of Bahrain's national team.

Batista served as head coach of Argentina's national team between November 2010 and July 2011, through 17 games; eight victories, six draws and three defeats.

His last match, on July 16, 2011, was a quarterfinal game against Uruguay as part of the Copa America tournament in Argentina, which the two teams played to a tie, but Argentina lost 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Batista stepped down after the defeat.

As a footballer, Batista played at the 1986 Mexico World Cup, which Argentina won, and the 1990 Italy World Cup, in which it was runner up, both under the supervision of coach Carlos Bilardo and with football icon Diego Maradona as the star player. Endit