With precocious skills, dynamic personality and raw strength,
it's little surprise fans are comparing China's top female
footballer Ma Xiaoxu to Wayne Rooney.
But this is not something Ma, Asian Women's Player of the Year
and Youth Player of the Year, is happy to hear.
"I know lots of people would like to compare me to Rooney. I do
not like the comparison," she said after China's opening game.
The team thrashed Thailand 7-0, but Ma, who was feeling unwell,
played just 20 minutes and failed to capitalize on a host of
chances.
"I know I have a strong personality, but I'm not as explosive as
Rooney."
Ma believes she'll do a better job than Rooney at her World Cup
debut next year in China. The Manchester United and England striker
was sent off in his team's 2006 World Cup quarter-final defeat to
Portugal.
"At next year's World Cup in China, I believe as a debutant I
will play better than him. I also believe China will get better
results than England."
"I like to stick to my own principles. But it does not mean I am
unable to control myself on the field."
The teenager has been recognized as China's biggest football
discovery in recent years.
One day before the victory, Ma beat four male counterparts to
win two of Asian football's top honours.
She became the first female footballer in the history of the AFC
awards to win the AFC Youth Player of the Year award, upsetting the
all-male contingent of Davrondzhon Tukhtasunov of Tajikistan, Kim
Kum-il of Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Yasuhito
Morishima and Yoichiro Kakitani of Japan.
But when she is not winning awards, Ma has frequently made
headlines for the wrong reasons.
In the January's four-nation tournament in Guangzhou, she was
reportedly harshly criticized by a chief official of the China
Football Association due to her "undisciplined" behaviour, and was
later fined by the head coach after a refusal to put on long
socks.
In April's FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship, Ma's defiant
attitude against the team's management almost led to dismissal from
the team.
After the championship Ma was again in the spotlight, when asked
her club to offer her a new and improved contract.
"People said I was rebellious. I know I've made some mistakes.
But I don't think to be rebellious is wrong. Everyone should have
personality, as long as you show it at the right time and the right
place.
"I am a football player. I want to show my personality on the
pitch, score goals and win matches."
Ma has been a "rebel" since childhood, playing football with
other boys on the street and defying her mother's request to study
hard.
Her determination has gradually paid off, helping her to win
numerous titles at different levels of national competition.
"Now, my parents are also football fans," said Ma.
Apart from the two AFC honours, she also bagged the MVP and
Golden Boot awards in the U-20 Women's World Championship in
Moscow.
Recognition from AFC before the Asian Games gave a boost to Ma
and also the Chinese women's team, who are aiming to win back the
title after finishing second behind DPRK Korea at the 2002 Busan
Games. China had won three consecutive women's football titles
starting at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.
"The Asian Games is an important event and also the last one
this year. I hope to add the Asian Games title to my
collection."
But she has a bigger goal than Asian Games trophy - the World
Cup next year and the 2008 Beijing Olympic.
China will face an uphill battle to win the World Cup, but Ma
hopes she can win the most prestigious personal honour in the
women's field - FIFA Women's Player of the Year.
"I hope one day I can stand on the podium of the presentation
ceremony as the world's best female player. I will work hard and
fight for it."
(China Daily December 2, 2006)