As every soccer fan around the world is crazy about the ongoing 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Tamkang University also held a soccer tournament last week. The tourney was joined by a total of 23 teams, and the winner, for the first time, went to a soccer team composed of students who play the sports as a habit. The team beat a rivaling team made of foreign students, also a first time in the tournament history. Hsiao Shu-fen, director of the TKU Office of Physical Education, remarks that the winning of the team who plays soccer for fun is the best example of the fruitful result of physical education. “After all, college life is about experiencing all kinds of sports and learn team spirit. Engage in a sport for fun can bring unimaginable outcome,” she noted.

Chen Yi-cheng, section chief of Physical Education Activities Section under the Office of Physical Education, who doubled as instructor of the winning team, said that the underdog team who ultimately took the No.1 place has shocked many. “Their example can tell us anyone can learn to play soccer well if they practice hard enough,” he added.

Chien Ying-cheng, a junior in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the captain of the championship team, said his team managed to stop their opponent from scoring because they knew they cannot win the game by offensive effort alone. Chien said he was also very surprised at the result. He explains that each team can has two foreign university team players to help them learn the sport. He believes that it is their passion that inspires the whole team. “With their help, it is not difficult at all for Taiwanese to learn to play soccer,” Chien said. He said he took two semester courses on soccer which helped him a lot in mastering the sport. “Everyone should experience the fun of playing soccer,” he added.

Meanwhile, the event was also joined by female players for the first time in the tournament history. The girl is a Honduras student from the Department of International Trade. She said she joined the team “BARCA” under the invitation of her friend because of her passion toward soccer. She was a major helping hand in lifting her team secure the second place in the tournament. She believes all the guys are afraid of her because she is so good at the sport. ( ~Yeh Yun-kai )