Liaoning Flying Leopards' assistant coach, Hugo Lopez, embraces life in Shenyang, reveling in the city's culture and the team's success in the CBA league.
SHENYANG, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Hugo Lopez strolls through a park on the banks of the Hun River in the Chinese city of Shenyang.
As the coach of the Liaoning Flying Leopards, a team that recently secured the first place in the regular season of the 2023-2024 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league, the Spaniard pauses in front of a basketball court, opting to watch people play instead of joining the game.
"Here, I want to be a citizen of Shenyang," Lopez said.
Despite the busy CBA schedule, he enjoys his day off, relishing the arrival of spring in this city, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning province.
Since July 2022, the Spanish coach has been working with the Liaoning team. However, his initial visit to China could date back to 2013 when he served as the assistant coach at Spain's Real Madrid.
Invited to play a friendly match, Lopez and his team spent nearly a week in Beijing, leaving him eager to explore more of the Asian country.
With over 22 years of coaching experience at the professional level, Lopez is a real globetrotter, having worked and secured titles in Europe, North America, and Africa. When the opportunity arose to coach Liaoning, he saw it as a significant chance to assist an Asian team that recognized his talent and had the potential for championship success.
His wish came true. In the final of the 2022-2023 CBA league, the Liaoning Flying Leopards defeated the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 4-0, clinching the team's third championship. With this victory, Lopez became the first Spanish coach to claim titles in four countries, namely Spain, Angola, Canada, and China.
In the eyes of the seasoned instructor, Liaoning's basketball culture permeates across China, and he is impressed by the fervor of the team's fans. They bestowed upon him the title of "tactics master" and the nickname "Wuge" ("brother Hugo" in Mandarin), demonstrating their recognition and support both inside and outside the arena.
"It's probably one of the best fans I've encountered in my sports career. Having this support behind you always fuels the desire to work hard, first for yourself and then for them," reflected Lopez.
Comparing his impression from 2013, Lopez acknowledges China's remarkable evolution. He appreciates the modernity, cleanliness, and facilities in Shenyang, as well as the friendliness of its citizens. For him, the widespread use of electronic payment through mobile phones resolves the inconvenience of forgetting to carry cash or cards.
Despite the considerable distance between his homeland and Shenyang, which requires an almost 20-hour plane journey, the Spanish coach encourages his friends to explore the Asian country more closely. Since December 1 of 2023, China's unilateral visa exemption policy for holders of ordinary Spanish passports has been in effect, permitting them to enter China for up to 15 days. Lopez notes that this policy allowed his wife to travel from Spain to Shenyang this year.
During his nearly two-year stay, Lopez has explored many cities within and outside Liaoning province. He hopes that more people from Spain can make multiple visits to experience the entirety of the Asian country.
"I would like to learn more about China. I hope to extend my stay for a few more years and have my family join me to enjoy this experience," he said. ■