Soccer Diplomacy for Lasting Friendship
2016-01-22

      As a follow-up to the agreement signed by the BDS with the Consulate General of Spain in Beijing in July 2015 on simplifying procedures for the BDS employees to go to Spain to further enhance and deepen the bilateral cooperation and friendship, the DRC-Spanish Embassy Soccer Friendly was successfully held at the Tayuan DRC by the BDS Trade Union together with HSC on the morning of 31 October. Ms. Jiang Qi, BDS Deputy Director General, took part in the event and served the kick-off.

       In the sunny, breezy and pleasant weather, the Consul General took the position of goalkeeper for the Spanish side. A soccer enthusiast from childhood, he was once a candidate to a primary league establishment but had to give up his dream of going professional, bowing to the influence of a family of career diplomats. Despite of that, his love for the sport never died and his feats repeatedly saved the Spanish goal, whilst giving loud instructions to his team members for offensives. Mr. David, number 10 of team Spanish side, used to be a professional in team Barcelona, who came to work for the consulate upon retiring from soccer for leg injury. He was too strong an opponent to be underestimated for exceptional skills. The DRC team suffered a 1:3 loss in the first half. Nonetheless, learning from the lessons and leveraging better fitness with improved team work, team DRC achieved the eventual 7:3 triumph. Through the tournament, the two sides were able to bring about deeper rapprochement as well as better tactics and skills, and both agreed to have another match on a different course next month, ushering the friendly to a jovial conclusion.