[Exclusive interview with Ti Lu]Talking about Bo Lao dialect, “12 codes, one series is in and the other is not.” With the addition of VAR and goal-line technology in today’s football world, it should be clear at a glance whether a goal is in or out, but in reality not everything can be clearly understood. Ouyang Yaochong, as the first local player to join a Japanese professional league (J.League) club, spent three years in vain, but in the end he couldn’t even win a reserve seat. I asked him whether he thought it was a success or a failure? “Ou Chong” answered calmly: “It has been my dream since childhood to go to Japan to play wave. I am nothing, so I don’t feel that I have lost anything in the past three years, everything has been gained! If I failed in Japan, I I can still hold my head up. I asked myself, I have tried my best, so why am I embarrassed?”
The editor has known “Ou Chong” for many years, and it can be said that I have witnessed his growth. On the day I found out that he had successfully left Japan’s J3 club, I privately WhatsApped him several times to “ask for information”. He had to ask the prospective manager or the club before he could answer. At the beginning of this month, he announced on social platforms that “Japanese football career is officially over.” The editor immediately invited him for an interview, and he readily agreed. The interview was just one day before he and his new wife went out for their honeymoon, and they were having fun on Boundary Street. Field completed.
Wearing a wedding ring on her ring finger, “Ou Chong” said it was her responsibility, “After waiting for me for so many years, where can I find such a good woman?”
The football school under the name of “Ouchong” has recently been renamed “Miracle” (Kiseki Sports Academy). It will use the Japanese football training system as a development blueprint and will also assist Hong Kong groups to go to Japan for training or friendly matches.
I don’t feel like I lost anything, I gained everything. Maybe my only regret is that I can’t play.
Asked about the gains and losses of “Ou Chong” in the past three years, he replied: “I think everything is gained. I am nothing and have lost nothing. Because the level of Japanese football in the world is always completely different. Go to Japan, go to J The .league team has always been my dream. Being able to see it, practice with local stars, play with other teams, and then feel the football atmosphere, environment, and facilities together, what does it mean to be called a first team? . I have also learned Japanese, so I don’t feel like I have lost anything. I have gained everything. Maybe my only regret is that I can’t appear.”
Received YSCC Yokohama online live broadcast franchise registration in 2021. (zoom screenshot)
If someone had given me these opportunities when I was younger, I would have had more time to pursue them. If it doesn’t work in 3 years, I will stay until 5 years. If it doesn’t work, I will stay until 10 years.
In April 2021, J3 club YSCC Yokohama announced the news of Ouyang Yaochong joining. A month later, the club held an online press conference for him, allowing the local media to witness it for the first time. However, there has been no chance to land in the past two years; In January this year, he switched to another J3 club, Iwate Morioka Senzuru, and remained on the bench. When asked if he felt that three years were wasted, “Ou Chong” sighed and said: “If someone had given me these opportunities when I was young, I could have spent more time fighting for it. If it doesn’t work in three years, I will wait until five years. If it doesn’t work, I will leave it until five years.” If I stay until 10 years, I will go, but I am now 34 years old and will be 35 soon. My career as a wave player is always limited. Age is a problem. It does not mean that you can do it just because you have dreams. It all depends on whether others want it or not. You, your ability, and your age all play a big factor. Because I am already very old, and I was already very old from the first day I went to Japan, so I was always ‘hard-core’.”
If I was a failure in terms of appearance, I understand why the fans would scold me, and it would be the same for me.
In the past three years, the attitude of local fans towards him has changed 180 degrees. From the initial support and buying jerseys overseas, this year some people even opened a FB page to “pay attention to Ouyang Yao’s situation in the battle” and left a message to mock him as ” Chef”, with the utmost cynicism. Objectively speaking, “Ou Chong’s” career not only went blank for three years, but also lost the trust of fans. “If I was a failure in terms of appearance, I understand why the fans would scold me, and it would be the same for me, but I enjoyed the whole process. I feel that if I failed in Japan, I can still hold my head high. At least people in J.League know that I exist, I have posted about me on social platforms, and everyone in Japan knows that I have been here. I asked myself, I have tried my best, so what’s the point of being embarrassed?”
(Picture: Ouyang Yaochong – Official FB page)
While traveling in Japan, “Ou Chong” posted information about his local life on his personal page from time to time, but most of it was news about off-site activities. To the outside world, he felt that he was more about eating, drinking and having fun than kicking around. It was only after he recently left the team that he slowly uploaded clips of past games. “The Japanese football club has great restrictions on playing football. In fact, I have saved the game clips of every friendly match. In the past, the football club did not allow players to disclose it to the public. Now I leave and ignore it.” During my stay in Japan, “Ou Chong” always said that he had to ask the exact club before he could answer the question. At that time, the editor thought, “What a high-ranking player.” Later I realized that if he didn’t follow other people’s procedures, it would affect the image of Hong Kong players.
(Picture: Ouyang Yaochong – Official FB page)
For all the activities organized by the football club, those with money would not have my turn to attend, and those without money would attend all of them.
During the interview, “Ou Chong” often mentioned that he had tried his best. The editor asked him to describe it in detail. He raised his voice and explained confidently: “I am the only one in the team who practiced from beginning to end this year. I have never done this before.” I was absent for a day. Then, for all the activities held by the football club, those with money would not take my turn. Those without money, I went to all of them.” He said with a little excitement: “For example, I went to the school to promote, pick up garbage, and pick flowers. , there is no money for these. The staff said that no one was going and asked me if I could help. I said yes, it doesn’t matter. I am a Hong Konger here, and I think I will not be far behind you in terms of playing skills, but I would like to Use my attitude to let you see that I give everything to the team wholeheartedly. None of the activities I have gone to over the years have been paid, whether it is two or three hours, or a six-hour round trip, I have paid for everything. Go. I think you need to know where you are as a person. I came to Japan to seek an opportunity, so I am happy to do it.”
(Picture: Ouyang Yaochong – Official FB page/team official website)
(Picture: Ouyang Yaochong – Official FB page)
If it comes to my failure in Japan, I will definitely accept it happily, Japan! J.league!
Over time, “Ou Chong” met more local fans and even became friends. “Even if I don’t have a role in the game, I will do my best every time. Before the game, I need helpers at the stalls outside the stadium, selling beer, pouring soda, inviting guests, and asking fans to come and take photos with the players. I will do my best every game and even the fans will recognize them. I said, “Hey, it’s you again! You help me every time!” (Did I make fun of you?) No, I’m so respectful. The Japanese fans know that I work hard, and they will even give me a bottle of water and ask me to cheer up. In the end, I failed I have no choice but to ask myself that I have tried my best to fight for it, and I will not feel shy. If someone scolds me, I just ignore them. What should I be afraid of? If it comes to me failing in Japan, I will definitely accept it happily. Japan! J.league!”
continue reading
Appearing in official promotional photos in July, it was thought that there was a chance to play. (Club picture)
(Club picture)
“Ou Chong” looked back on the past three years, and the club had made him feel that he had a chance to play more than once. “At the end of the season, the coach heard me talking to others and knew that I might leave after the season, so he asked: ‘Really?’ “, I said directly: “I hope you give me a chance, please!”, and he replied: “Come on, there is a chance.” It was the last three games at that time, and my teammates even helped me report to the coach, seeing that I was always very happy. They worked hard and wanted to help me, and everyone said that my chance came.” However, in the end, the coach only arranged some players that he planned to retain, and even the foreign aid quota was not used up. “Ou Chong” once again ended in vain and had to give up.
(Picture: Ouyang Yaochong – Official FB page)
In fact, it has been very hard these past few years, and I am unhappy every day.
“Actually, these past few years have been very hard, and I am unhappy every day.” The editor was a little surprised to hear “Ou Chong” confess like this, “I was so happy when I first joined the team, but then I felt something was wrong and I really wanted to leave. You If you can’t wait for the waiting list every week, you will be tired. One year, two years, three years, you will want to die, so gray. Of course Japanese football is very good, but their culture will not change because of anyone. I will try my best I can’t control other things, I just think I can live up to myself.” In fact, the club also renewed the contract with “Ou Chong” and suggested that he stay and wait for the opportunity, “Forget it, if I am still young, I will I’ll wait.” He admitted that some JFL teams were beckoning to him, and vowed that Nono had a high chance of playing, but his heart was always in the J.league, “It’s not interesting for me to play in the JFL, I definitely want to play in the J.league. .”
In the 2009 East Asian Games finals, “Ou Chong” entertained guests during the 12-yard shootout, but at the same time, Yip Honghui, who bravely saved the execution, became the hero. In the end, he also led the Hong Kong team to the throne as captain. Now, as a pioneer of the exodus to J.League, although it cannot be said to be a success, “Ou Chong” has finally opened the door for Hong Kong players. After landing in Japan, he helped local players Tu Junqiao and Liang Youwei join the JFL clubs Suzuka Scorers and Shiga Lake Kings, but unfortunately neither of them had a chance to play.
Tu Junqiao was selected into Suzuka’s scorer list in May, but this time, he also announced his departure from the team after the season. (Club picture)
On my first day in Japan, people complained that I didn’t have a translator. I replied that it was because I had no money, brother!
I still remember that an online football store in Hong Kong became one of the sponsors of Suzuka Scorer this year. Tu Junqiao was selected into the squad when he visited Oita Beni Onsen in May, but it was only this time. “Ou Chong” admitted that players who can bring sponsorship to the club will naturally gain more attention. This is the ecology of world football: “There is no problem of health or unhealthy, but this is how the outside world works. Take a look and guess. How much profit has Chanathip Songkrasin brought to Japan and Thailand! Tokyo Green signed an Indonesian player (Pratama Arhan), and a lot of sponsors followed, but he only played one game. Everyone outside said ” It’s a one-stop operation. As a player, you only need to play well. There is a group of people behind the scenes to help you arrange things; but I can only rely on myself. Looking back on the first day I went to Japan, people complained that I didn’t have a translator. I replied Because I have no money, brother!”
If you give me one more choice, I will definitely make the same choice.
“If you give me one more choice, I will definitely make the same choice. But I hope someone can take me out instead of trying it on my own.” “Ou Chong” explained: “You are sure to go out, and you need everything. Only when someone can lead you out. In my era, there were no channels to go out. The only person who left was Wu Weichao, but I didn’t know him well. After that, when I went to Portugal, I had to rely on myself.” He sent a message to local players who want to leave. If you venture out when you are young, I believe your development will be better.
On the day of the visit, wandering director Phillip Li and two Japanese aids, Reihito Okamoto and Ryota Hayashi, greeted “Ou Chong”.
If you have known me for so many years, you all know that I am best at personal breakthroughs, and what I do must be unexpected.
When asked about future trends, he admitted that he has been contacted by Hong Kong Super League clubs and does not rule out making an appearance in the “Hong Kong Super League Cup” next week, but at the same time he said that his fate with Japan has not ended yet. “Let me tell you, I haven’t given up yet. Maybe I won’t use my identity as a player to pursue this dream. I will use another identity to do it. The moment I left, I already knew my goal. Being a player now is really No, just step in with another identity. I won’t give up! (The new identity will be a player agent?) Of course it won’t be that simple. You have known me for so many years and you all know that I am best at personal breakthroughs. It must be something unexpected, but we have to sell it for the time being!”
You can’t be too perfect or too greedy. I’m not bad now, at least I’m still alive.
At the end of the interview, “Ou Chong” was asked to summarize his three years in Japan in four words. He thought for a while and mentioned the works of his late friend Zhong Hanchi and the tattoo on his right thigh, which was also his life motto: “The Way of Heaven” Reward your hard work! (Have you really been “rewarded”?) I think I have been “rewarded”. Of course, I also want to go out and be elected, but I can’t be too perfect or too greedy. I’m not bad now, at least I am still alive and I am very satisfied to be able to bring something back! “
“Ou Chong” said that his fate with Japan has not been broken, and he firmly believes that he can still see the rainbow if he changes his identity.
Pictures and text: Vincent
This article is written by “Sportsroad“Originally published in”【Hong Kong Football．Exclusive Interview]Ouyang Yaochong has regrets after living in Japan for three years and zero battles, changing his identity and pursuing his dream again」
2023-12-22 17:36:20
#Hong #Kong #FootballExclusive #InterviewOuyang #Yaochong #regrets #living #Japan #years #battles #changing #identity #pursuing #dream
