Asian Games 2018: Chinese player dedicates goal in East Timor win to childhood teammate who died on the pitch
Zhang Yuan has the image of friend Wang Renlong on his guards, as he explained to CCTV after 6-0 victory
During China’s 6-0 opening game win over East Timor at the Asian Games, Zhang Yuan scored China’s second goal and afterwards he removed a shin guard to show to the camera.
The reason was because it bears the image of his childhood friend and former teammate Wang Renlong, who collapsed during training with Dalian Transcendence on November 12, 2014 and died later in hospital.
Both players had played youth football together in Dalian, but Zhang, 21, has since moved to Chinese Super League side Guizhou Hengfeng on loan from Tianjin Quanjian.
The touching story came to light on mainstream media and has been shared on social media. For once Chinese football fans are being positive in the comments sections of websites, lauding Zhang for commemorating his “brother”.
Social media posts and Chinese football app Dongqiudi suggest that Zhang has worn the commemorative shin guards for the last two years.
