Yao Ming is one of the most successful Chinese-born to play in the NBA. (Photo : Wikipedia)
As China revives the popularity of soccer through a reform plan, former NBA star Yao Ming said that it could develop "envy" from other circles of sports in the country, state-run Xinhua reported.
The central reform group is led by none other than the country's president, Xi Jinping, who is widely known as an avid soccer fan and enthusiast. Xi launched the reform roadmap earlier in February.
The plan revolves around harnessing and honing potential young talents and ensuring that the various professional clubs as well as amateur and school teams are well-integrated.
The former NBA player lauded the government's take on the sports whose performance has embarrassed China in the recent years. For the past decade, the country's national soccer team has failed to enter the World Cup.
"I am very glad to see that school soccer has been included in the plan," he said.
"It is a very correct decision," Yao, who is a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, added.
Yao cited that "the biggest problem of China's soccer game is that it is too far from schools. Any cultivation of talent, without the basis of school education, would not be realistic or sustainable."
"As one who is from the circle of basketball, I must say that I am very envious (of the plan)," he revealed on Monday during a press conference on the sidelines of the annual two sessions.
The basketball icon also remarked that he is looking forward as to how the plan would materialize.
"I hope to see more details about how to implement the plan, including the roles that different departments and sectors would play in promoting the reform," Yao enthused.
As for his sports, he added that China could also have "another plan that promotes basketball in schools in the near future."
