China plans to revamp its lowly national team with a goal of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, following a vast corruption scandal involving several top officials.
Wei Di was appointed to lead China's soccer association in January after his predecessor was questioned by police about match fixing. More than a dozen officials and players were caught in a sweeping probe that was blamed in part for the dismal performance of the national team.
``The men's team should become one of Asia's top-tier teams within five years,'' Wei said Wednesday, in an exclusive interview with AP Television News. ``As long as you are representing Asia in the World Cup, then you are in a top-tier Asian team.''
China has qualified for the World Cup only once, failing to score a goal in three straight losses in 2002. It is currently ranked 85th in the world.
Wei said officials hope to improve the national team by scheduling more training matches and friendlies. Currently, the team plays only 10 matches a year, and that is the only real-game experience for some athletes who are not starters on their club teams.
``The purpose is to let the national team improve its play through more match experience, to let the fans feel the national team is changing and is not languishing at the bottom,'' he said.
One idea is for the national team to play each Chinese Super League club once a year.
The soccer association is also planning to enforce a comprehensive playing style for the national and development squads to ensure a cohesiveness that has been lacking. It is also thinking of hiring foreign advisers, though no decision has been made.
Facing intense pressure from China's top communist leaders, Wei has sworn to end rampant malfeasance in Chinese soccer. He faces several hurdles, though, including lack of transparency, autocratic management and strong ties between coaches, players and gambling syndicates.
Along with match-fixing and bribing of referees, abuses allegedly include players paying for places at the national team's training camp and appearances in international competition.
``No (soccer) association of any country would allow this kind of ugliness to exist,'' Wei said, blaming outdated management styles and lack of regulation.
Wei also apologized for canceling a friendly against South Africa that was scheduled for Wednesday in Germany, blaming travel difficulties stemming from the Iceland volcano eruption.
Bafana Bafana has been desperate to play competitive matches ahead of its World Cup opener June 11 against Mexico and said it would complain to FIFA about the cancellation.
``Our biggest concern was that if the team went, they'd be unable to come back. If they were one day late, we'd be unable to answer to our clubs,'' Wei said. ``This was really a pity.''
