The coach of the Chinese women's football team, Ma Liangxing, has refuted reports claiming he intends to quit his post due on the pretext of illness.
Ma Liangxing. |
In an interview with CCTV at the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Ma Liangxing said he won't quit. He will return to his squad in Guangzhou if a later physical check in Shanghai proves his health is ok.
Ma Liangxing flew to Shanghai on Saturday for a general checkup at a local hospital because he has felt something wrong in his heart since he led a winter training camp in Kunming in the Yunnan Province.
Rumors of his resignation started flying after a Shanghai player, Yuan Fan, was kicked out of the national team on Tuesday. Reports claimed Ma Liangxing firmly opposed the decision and intended to resign in protest.
The Director of the Chinese Football Association, Xie Yalong, on the same day told media that it's normal for one to get ill and he expected them not to fabricate speculative links between the coach's illness and other events.
A deputy with the watchdog, Yang Yimin, denied the possibility that Ma will be replaced by former head coach of China youth football team, German Eckhard Krautzen. Yang said the only post for Krautzen is as an advisor for the women's team.
The women's football team is currently training under the guidance of assistant coach Wang Haiming in Guangzhou in preparation for the upcoming four-nation tournament.
