One of the applicants showing his skills at the trials held by the Shuaimingke Kung Fu Football Club Tuesday Photo: Wang Zi

By Wu Jie

Shuaimingke Kung Fu Football Club held its first trials for young hopefuls to become part of a professional team Tuesday. But only two applicants turned up at a sports center in Fengtai district.

Kong Debao, founder of the kung fu football club, told the Global Times Tuesday they are planning to launch a professional team featuring martial arts to take part in the national third division league and to contribute to Chinese football.

"There will be a series of trials in the coming days and we aim to recruit 30 talented players aged between 17 to 25 from across the country for our squad. A few kung fu footballers from our club will be selected for the squad," said Kong.

Yang Fenggang, president of the club, said the team would definitely incorporate kung fu into football on the premise of no fouling. The players will be paid 1,500 yuan ($219.75) per month and there is a bonus every match depending on their performance.

"Players will train and lodge at the Fengtai Sports Center, which was Guoan FC's home ground from 2006 to 2008. We are also contacting counterparts in Australia and Japan to play commercial games so as to help the operation," said Yang.

A former coach, Guo Ruilong and Chen Jutong, a former player with Guoan FC in the 1970s were present as scouts.

Chen said good players are easily spotted in a match.

"If everything goes well, we will go to the third division league next spring. But it does not seem right to have too much kung fu in professional games," said Chen who was invited to be the manager.

Only two players turned up for the trial. Li, 21, from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said he had received six years of professional training and it is his dream to play for a big club.

Bao Ruinan, a 14-year-old student from Dongcheng district, wants to be a goalkeeper. He said his parents will support him if he makes it into the final squad.

Kong said 40 players were expected but they failed to contact him Monday night as his cell phone was switched off. "More players are coming and trials will continue until we get what we need."