Southern Metropolis Daily, edition：AA29 2010-02-03

Author: Ding Shuying

The news of this newspaper (reporter, Ding Shuying): Although it was once reported by the media that Mr. Cai Bin, the coach of Chinese Women Volleyball Team, would turn up during the match between China and US women volleyball teams, he was not found in Guangzhou Gymnasium yesterday. Just after celebrating their ranking into group A of the first division, EWVT finally defeated at ease the visiting American team at 3:0.

All the attractive descriptions-the first match between a Chinese club and the world volleyball power’s national team, the conclusive battle of “Lang’s Team” and the final performance of China’s golden generation-were outdone by the disclosing of the host before match: the coach of Chinese national team Cai Bin will attend the match, added with Lang Ping, Evergrande’s coach on the scene and Chen Zhonghe, vice director of Fujian Sport Bureau in the VIP seat, coaches of three different terms will get together here.

This is undoubtedly a great attraction for the media, together with all the audience, they’re expecting eagerly the historic moment when the three coaches meet. But as the match began, all the reporters searched Guangzhou Gymnasium again and again, getting no indication of Cai’s presence.  Lang instructed her players outside the court while Chen was seated in the presiding bench.

In the applauses of nearly 8,000 fans, Evergrande at its home game beat the US at ease with 3:0, and the scores of three sets were 25:20, 25:14, and 25:19. After the match, the first phase of Lang’s Team will be formally dismissed and the players can enjoy their family get-together at home while Lang will leave for the US for the New Year with her daughter.

After success into the first division group A with master stroke of building the army and brilliance in China’s volleyball in the past two months, Evergrande perfectly concluded the 2009-2010 Competition Season with another victory last night.

Indeed EWVT put on a sensational carnival in the conclusive match of the season-the famous singer Wei Wei as a guest performer presented Maria Cary’s “Hero”, broadcast live worldwide by nine mainstream TV stations at home and broad simultaneously including CCTV Sports Channel, Guangdong TV Station, and Hong Kong NowTV, and the veteran commentator Song Shixiong was invited from Canada to be the commentator for the match…….Despite the absence of “Cai”, the rich dishes of the feast with master piece were more than enough for digestion.

Veterans Stand Last Guard Dutifully

A Match of Ease with Nostalgic Atmosphere

“The veterans were enjoying the match and it is worth commemorating that this may be the last one for some of them.”  The match was so effortless that there’s almost no highlight. But to Lang and the veterans of Evergrande, this was one filled with nostalgia. Lang’s words were resonated by Feng Kun “This may be the final match for a couple of players. We’re enjoying the process rather than emphasizing the victory. We value it very much that we can have such an opportunity after the season.”

Lang maintained the leading line-up based on the veterans such as Feng Kun, Zhou Suhong, Yang Hao, Yin Yin, Harmotto, Ying Meng, and Davis throughout the match, “The audience comes to watch Feng, Yang, and Zhou, and it will be meaningless without them.”  Lang understood the intention of the 8,000 viewers present, and the veterans dutifully stood their last guard, “The six players have been cooperating very well throughout the season. I meant to arrange more players for performance in the five games but they played smoothly.”

“Is there any definite news about the fluidity of the team in the next season?” Lang and Feng were repeatedly asked about the veterans in the next season by the reporters after match. However, to be departed soon, they tried to evade: “So far the most definite news is that we are sure to play the games in the first division group A and we hope that the veterans can have a good time in the coming year. As to that of the next season, we’ll respect their choice.”

It is learned that Lang tried to persuade several players of golden generation to stay at the end of the season. Except Yin Yin who is determined to retire, veterans with greatest possibility of staying in the Lang’s Team include the team leader Feng Kun and the vice team leader Zhou Suhong.