Life Notes: A Memorable⁢ Meeting with Football Star Chi Minghua

Autumn leaves in the wind

I am ​a die-hard fan of Chinese football. Having lived in the United‌ States for 36 years, my passion for the sport remains unwavering. As a child, I fell in ‌love with football and became an out-and-out star chaser. One‍ memorable ⁢moment that stands out in my mind is the match⁣ between Guangdong and‌ Bayi on the third day of the Chinese ‌New Year in ‌1963. The Guangdong team won a free kick outside the penalty area,‌ and Yang Zixuan’s powerful kick resulted in ⁣a 3:1 victory for Guangdong. This moment has been etched in ⁢my memory ‍forever.

Among the Guangdong teams, I have always been fond of the team led by Su Yongshun, which included Rong Zhixing,​ Du Zhiren,‍ Gu Guangming, He Jia, Chen Xirong, and Cai Jinbiao. Later, I‌ followed the team led by Xian Dixiong, which featured Ou Weiting, Wu Qunli, Zhao Dayu, Li​ Chaobo, Mai Chao,⁣ and Huang Junwei. In the ‌1980s, I took notice of⁣ the new star Chi Minghua of Guangdong. I was impressed​ by​ his clear mind, ability to⁤ read and fill positions, and his technical and conscious approach as a central defender. I was optimistic‍ about his development prospects, and he did not disappoint. He became a​ star of the⁢ Guangdong team and eventually the captain of⁢ the Chinese football team.

Recently, I had ​the opportunity to meet Chi Minghua and his wife over lunch, thanks to the introduction by the​ Wensheng brothers. I was ​thrilled ⁢to ⁢meet my idol and fulfill my long-cherished wish. When we first met, I was struck by Captain Chi’s dignified appearance‌ and straight posture. He was wearing ⁢red sportswear, which added to his handsome appearance. His wife, a martial arts champion in⁢ Guangdong Province, exuded a heroic demeanor. As we sat down‌ and exchanged pleasantries, ​Captain Chi showed a rare high emotional intelligence, with a friendly attitude and good ⁤communication skills.⁢ We shared‌ stories and secrets about football and ⁢football stars, and I was impressed by his approachability.

Chi Minghua shared a photo of ‌him, Gu Guangming, and ⁣Zhao Dayu, which ‍I carefully ​examined.⁣ I ​asked him to send it to the​ WeChat group‍ so that⁣ I could keep it forever. I ⁢also joined the Meizhou group, thanks ‌to Wen Sheng’s ‍invitation. As a star worshipper, I didn’t forget to invite the celebrity couple to ⁣take​ a‌ photo with us. My wife, who knows ⁣me ⁤well, quickly ​took a shot⁣ of Chi Minghua and me shaking hands, leaving me with⁣ a⁢ cherished memory.

Our meeting was all too brief, and I ​was reluctant to say goodbye to​ my idol. I look forward to meeting again ⁣and​ experiencing more surprises.

Written in Guangzhou on February 17, 2024​ (the ⁢eighth ⁣day of the Lunar New ⁤Year)