BEIJING, Feb 6 (Reuters) - China's 2008 Olympic team lost
their first match against a Chelsea XI 1-0 on Monday while
officials moved to quell complaints about the pitch at the English
champions' training centre.
Chinese media reported complaints from the under-21 side about the
state of the facilities at the London club's Cobham centre, where
they are training for two weeks. 'The pitch isn't as good as we
imagined,' Zhou Haibin, a midfielder with Chinese champions
Shandong Luneng, told Titan sports newspaper.
'It doesn't matter if we eat or live a little worse. We come here
to train. But now food and accommodation are good while the pitch
is so bad.' Coach Ratomir Dujkovic said the pitch was the only
problem.
'I'm satisfied with almost everything here, but the pitch is too
wet,' the Serb told Xinhua news agency. Before the match at
Brentford, a sometimes testy affair which was won by a free-kick
from Spaniard Sergio Tejera, Chelsea released a statement from a
China team spokesman.
'We have been training in Cobham for almost one week,' he said. 'We
are so impressed by the great pitches and facilities provided to us
in Cobham training centre. 'All young players are very excited
about such experiences and the coaching staffs are interested in
the various workshops etc.
'Every one of the team is satisfied with the training and life here
in Cobham and would like to thank again everyone who has made
efforts in turning this into reality.'
Chelsea's invitation for the China squad for the Beijing Olympics
to train in England is part of a project by the English champions
to develop what the club sees as one of its key markets.
