Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Among the six new measures to revitalize Chinese football put forward by Chinese Football Association (CFA) President Song Kai on Tuesday, prioritizing a technique-centered approach will be essential to laying a solid foundation for putting the beleaguered sport back on track in China.

Addressing the current state of Chinese football in recent years at the 2024 China Football Development Seminar held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Song said frankly, "nobody is satisfied." He noted shortcomings in Chinese football, including loss of technical traditions and inadequate youth training, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday.

The six measures he proposed are a technique-centered approach, rigorous training, bringing qualified coaches to youth training, establishing a robust competition system, promoting the integration of sports and education, and harnessing local enthusiasm.

Luo Le, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday that this approach is both correct and fundamental. 

"To improve the individual skills of football players as well as the overall level of the sport, we must focus on the basics. From the perspective of sports science, an athlete's capabilities - such as technical skills, physical fitness, and mental strength - are all key elements that determine their performance and ultimately influence the outcome of a match," Luo said. 

In football, victory depends on players' ability to score goals, which is heavily reliant on technical skills. The result of a game is not determined by who runs faster or farther. Technical skills go beyond just dribbling. They encompass passing, shooting, and various other aspects of the game. These are all integral parts of a player's technical ability. In fact, Chinese football players, particularly male athletes, have lagged far behind the international standards, and even in the Asian football landscape, he noted.

Emphasizing a technique-centered approach is not only a response to modern football philosophies but also aligns with the principles of football development. It is a reflection and correction of past training methods. 

As the late Chinese football coach Ma Kejian wrote in one of his books, "From a professional perspective, Chinese football started with a focus on technique" in the mid-1950s. The principle of a technique-centered approach was once at the core of the country's football development. However, this tradition was lost in the later stages of development, Song said at the seminar.

In recent years, China's football development may have overly focused on importing big-name international players and coaches as well as short-term tactical adjustments, neglecting technical detail and long-term development. 

A technique-focused approach to training helps improve individual player skills while enhancing overall team coordination and tactical execution. This method aligns with the modern, fast-paced global football landscape and could help Chinese football build sustained competitiveness.

Focusing on technique ensures that players develop solid fundamentals such as ball control, passing, dribbling, and tactical awareness early in their careers. In contrast to raw physical strength, technical skill forms the backbone of the world's football heavyweights, such as Argentina, Spain, France and Brazil.

After the national men's team was bundled out of the group stage with one loss and two draws without a goal in the 2024 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January, a report by Xinhua pointed out the problem with the team.

The national team's incompetence was reflected in their insufficient fundamental skills, such as a lack of ball control techniques, inaccurate passing, erroneous technical movements under pressure, and increased mistakes. Moreover, due to a lack of experience in high-level matches, the players struggled to maintain consistent performances during high-intensity competitions, the report said.

Making a technique-centered approach a priority, combined with rigorous physical training, shows a determination to improve the fundamentals that could lay a solid groundwork for nurturing young talent in the long run. 

After grinding out a last-minute 1-0 win over Bahrain in a Group C game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in November, China now stands in fourth place in the group with 6 points, keeping their World Cup dream alive.

The seminar was attended by investors, general managers from top-tier and second-tier Chinese clubs, and representatives from 16 key cities. Discussions covered youth training, grassroots football, and the creation of development hubs nationwide.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn