China National Team Calls Up Four U19 Players, Including a High School Student; Shao Jiayi’s Bold Move Deserves Recognition

(Source: Shanghai Observer)

With several players who have already established themselves in the national team, including Wang Yudong and Hu Hetao, called up to the U23 national team to prepare for the Asian Games, while Zhang Yuning and Zhu Chenjie were selected as over-age players, how the new senior national team would address the major shortage of players has been a focus of attention.

The latest training squad announced by the national team yesterday fully reflected head coach Shao Jiayi’s trust in young players. Four U19 players, including Yang Mingrui born in 2007, Wang Gengrui and Bunyamin Abdul Salamu born in 2008, and Zhao Songyuan born in 2009, were selected for the senior national team. In addition, the team also called up two U21 players, Du Yuezhen and Zhang Aihui.

Zhao Songyuan (right) impressed at the Rising Stars Champions Cup 东方IC

The selection of 17-year-old Zhao Songyuan came as a surprise to everyone. He is currently a high school student at Tsinghua University High School, does not belong to any professional club academy, and has never played in an adult competition.

Over the past year, Zhao Songyuan has developed rapidly with the U17 national team. From the U17 Asian Cup in May this year, to the Yinchuan Invitational Tournament in July, and then the Shanghai Rising Stars Champions Cup in August, he showed strong competitiveness at his age level. In the first round of the Rising Stars Champions Cup, a 3-2 win over Arsenal, Zhao scored after dribbling past two opponents; later, in a 2-1 comeback victory over Bayer Leverkusen, he scored a spectacular long-range goal after a series of skillful moves. Both goals were outstanding. Arsenal head coach Adam Pilling specifically praised Zhao Songyuan: “Zhao is tall, plays intelligently, uses his skills well, and has a level of maturity far beyond his age. He was the biggest problem for our defense.”

Calling up a high school student who has not yet played in competitions above the U17 level is something that has never happened in the history of the national team. Shao Jiayi’s decision is very bold, and its effect remains to be seen, as the intensity of U17 matches is completely different from adult professional football.

Competing against foreign forwards from various teams has helped Wang Gengrui (right) develop faster 东方IC

The selection of the other three U19 players has faced little controversy, as they have all proven themselves in this season’s Chinese Super League.

Wang Gengrui, who is under 18, is a full-back for Qingdao West Coast. He has made 21 appearances in this season’s Chinese Super League (20 starts), becoming the youngest regular starter in the entire league. With Hu Hetao absent, Wang Gengrui can provide strong support for the national team at left-back.

Bunyamin was a fringe substitute for Yunnan Yukun at the start of the season, but was promoted and heavily used in the second half of the campaign by Jordi, who is known for developing young players. In the just-concluded 26th round of the Chinese Super League, Bunyamin scored one goal and provided one assist to help Yukun defeat Liaoning Tieren 5-0. He has made 17 appearances this season (9 starts), contributing 5 goals and 3 assists, with a very impressive efficiency. His explosive ability to break through from the wing has also caught people’s attention.

Bunyamin has become one of the most in-demand players in the Chinese Super League 东方IC

Also a winger, Yang Mingrui played more than 700 minutes for Dalian Yingbo in the league last season. His position has become even more secure this season, with 15 starts in the Chinese Super League.

The greater value of these young players being selected for the national team is that they can receive close evaluation from the coaching staff. They still have a considerable distance to go before becoming qualified internationals, but the call-ups will increase their confidence and allow the outside world to see the achievements of China’s youth development system more clearly. Shao Jiayi’s bold move deserves recognition.

National team squad China Football Association

Original title: “China National Team Calls Up Four U19 Players, Including a High School Student; Shao Jiayi’s Bold Move Deserves Recognition”

Column chief editor: Shen Lei; Text editor: Wu Yulun; Cover image source: Chinese Football Association; Image sources: Oriental IC, Chinese Football Association

Source: Author: Wen Hui Daily Chen Haixiang