
Nie Weiping is known as an avid football fan: "In my view, the best Chinese men’s national football team of the past several decades was the generation that included Rong Zhixing (early 1980s). Rong Zhihang was technically superb and carried himself with exemplary sportsmanship. At the time, some even called for the promotion of a “Zhixing style” of play and conduct, urging the football establishment to act immediately. Unfortunately, no one took it seriously. I believe that team came closer than any other to reaching the World Cup—indeed, one could argue they had effectively qualified."