The Victorian Amateur Football Association’s website has just published an article titled Chinese footballer arrives in Melbourne to play in the VAFA.

The Chinese footballer, Chen Shao Liang will play for the Southern Dragons, a sister club of the Vietnam Swans.

The article, dated 29 July 2013, is reproduced below.

Chinese footballer Chen Shao Liang (Surname is Chen, first name is Shao Liang) has been flown in from the Guangzhou Scorpions to play for the Dragons Football Club over the next three weeks.

Shao Liang is part of the AFL China development group of players and commenced playing football at university where he is studying physical education and is hoping to be a teacher or a coach.

Shao Liang was accompanied by Darren Flanigan (130 games Geelong, 8 games St Kilda) to Elsternwick Park straight from Tullamarine Airport to meet with VAFA staff to welcome him to Australia. Darren works regularly in China as part of the AFL China development team, and wants to encourage more players from China to make their way to Australia

Shao Liang speaks just a small amount of English which should make playing for the Dragons a little easier as there are a number of Chinese speakers on the team. When Shao Liang is not at the Dragons he will also train at Wesley College’s 1st XVIII. In total it is a four week trip that will take in 3 rounds of football. Shao Liang is set to debut for the Dragons this weekend.

Footnote: Shao Liang usually plays for the Guangzhou Scorpions and Darren Flanigan is also a former player with the Hong Kong Dragons.