Thu, January 01, 2009
SHANGHAI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The caretaker coach of Chinese national team Yin Tiesheng was forced to modify his training plan on Thursday in fear cold could cause more troubles after five players had caught the disease.
The beleaguered team are now training in Shanghai in preparation for the Asian Cup qualifier against Syria on January 14. A sense of urgency can be felt as the team management "ordered" the players not to catch cold.
Midfielder Hao Junmin was the first victim falling to the disease, and he was even blamed by team manager Wei Shaohui for being "careless in protecting himself".
But after another four players were diagnosed to have contracted the disease, the team management believed it is the weather should be blamed.
"It was usually too cold when my team worked out there, we could not train too much now. I have to change the training plan, otherwise, I fear more players could catch cold," Yin said.
Yin's team beat a local team 1-0 in a warm-up on Thursday, and they are to play another two on Sunday.
"I will decide on the starting eleven of my team through these three games, it is emerging in my mind now," Yin said.
