Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 15th. Title: Qingdao Manatee, the inspiration from a “stubborn” climbing football IP
Xinhua News Agency reporters Gongbing, Wang Kai, Wu Shuguang
After five years of violation, return to the first class!
On November 14th, as the referee blew the final whistle, the 12th round of the 2021 China Second League rushed to the first group. With Sun Xu and Xiao Zhi’s goals, Qingdao Manatee defeated Xiamen Ludao 2-0 and succeeded in the two rounds ahead of schedule.
This Qingdao’s first professional football team, established in 1993, has not only the highlight moment of winning the best result in the league in 2011-the sixth place in the Chinese Super League, but also the painful drop of two consecutive levels in three years since 2013. After five years of hard climbing, the Manatee finally returned to the Chinese League sequence and moved forward firmly towards the goal of returning to the top league.
Tough tears
At the moment when the final whistle sounded, captain Sha Yibo burst into tears. He is the only player in the team who has experienced the 2013 Workers’ Sports Battle (the team’s predecessor Qingdao Zhongneng was relegated from the Super League) and 2016. He vented all his unwillingness, tenacity and hard work in the past eight years: “We have waited too long on this day… Qingdao Manatee, there are still higher dreams to be realized, let’s work hard together!” And this also represents the common emotion of many people who have always cared about and supported this team.
Former international Jiang Ning high-five with everyone, and kept hugging his teammate who was crying with happiness. Jiang Ning has experienced “big scenes” everywhere, from the National Youth League, National Youth League, National Olympic Games to the national team, but after this game, he also revealed his sincerity: “Chinese football is scouring the sand, and the tide recedes. Everyone discovers who is doing football. Pay silently… we work hard together to show Qingdao’s strength on a higher platform.”
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