Hello everyone! Welcome to this week’s “Female Fan Interview” column! Our featured guest this issue is a die-hard fan of Shanghai Shenhua. Since 2011, this year marks the tenth anniversary of her love for Shenhua. With her blue-dyed hair, she seems to embody the spirit of her beloved team – passionate, unwavering, and all about Shenhua!
Welcome to the interview! Could you please introduce yourself first?
My name is Cat, because I have tattoos on my arms, so everyone calls me Cat Sister. When I was young, I used to watch Shanghai Shenhua matches with my dad, but then I didn’t pay much attention to it. It wasn’t until my current husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) turned out to be a Shenhua fan that I started watching football again. That was around 2011, and now it’s been exactly ten years.
“Tattoos on your arms? That’s cool!”
Doesn’t it feel very social? Haha, actually, it’s to cover up my inner timidity.
So, you had two encounters with Shanghai Shenhua, how did they feel different?
The first time doesn’t really count as an encounter, I was still young after all. I just felt, hmm… this is our Shanghai team. As a Shanghai native, I should support the local team
As I grew up, my feelings towards Shenhua changed completely after watching a match live for the first time. The atmosphere in the entire Hongkou Stadium (there weren’t many spectators at the time) left me completely mesmerized. I remember there was a Shanghai derby, and that’s when I learned what being a fan and what football truly meant. The cheering, the involuntary screams after a goal – it all made me fall in love completely.
So, after watching Shenhua for these ten years, what’s the most memorable moment for you? How would you describe your feelings towards Shenhua?
I think it would be in 2016, when Manzano was coaching and Demba Ba got injured. That year, Shenhua’s ‘passion, perseverance, and Shenhua spirit’ was truly ignited. I really loved Shenhua in 2016, that spirit of gritting your teeth and fighting through adversity.
Regarding Shenhua, it’s not so much about emotions, but more about sentiments. No matter what happens, I’ll always have that sentiment of never leaving you. It’s something that’s been with me since childhood, like a habit, like air – plain and simple, yet indispensable.
So, I can’t imagine how much pain Jiangsu fans must be feeling. Even if one day Shenhua gets relegated, I’ll watch League One, and if it gets relegated again, I’ll watch League Two… But if one day Shenhua ceases to exist, I won’t watch Chinese football anymore.
Perhaps it’s also because of my personality. I’m the kind of person who sees things in black and white. If I like something, I’ll like it wholeheartedly, and if I dislike something, I’ll dislike it intensely. Haha~
Is your hair color also because of Shenhua?
Hair color? Not really. I used to have green hair before, but then I thought blue would be more suitable~
Quite daring, haha~ I bet you get a lot of head turns when you go watch matches, right?
“Keeping it low-key, low-key~ But indeed, thanks to Shenhua, I’ve made a lot of new friends.”
But for the past couple of years, I haven’t been able to go to the stadium. Do you feel a sense of regret about that?
It’s really regrettable… A match without fans has no soul; this format is tormenting for both players and fans. Last year’s season pass turned into a commemorative card, and this year’s will likely be the same… I really hope everything can get back on track.
Speaking of this year, how do you view the team’s recent performance?
Started off strong but ended up faltering… Our team is too old, and this tournament format really puts us at a disadvantage. The current environment also means the players aren’t fully focused on the game. As for the head coach, well, I don’t understand his tactics either. As I talk about it, I miss the Shenhua of 2016 again. It feels like we’re simmering in lukewarm water now, lacking that drive. It’s been five years, and we haven’t won against our neighbors in the league. Sigh.
So, what are your expectations for Shenhua this season?
Overall, I hope we can be in the upper echelons, but as you can see, we’ve already dropped to the relegation zone. It’s highly likely we’ll just muddle through this year… I think Shenhua is a team that needs its fans. Our previous devilish home ground, even though our performance has declined in recent years, we’ve always been weak away from home.
Speaking of which, who is your favorite player in the Shenhua team?
Giovanni Moreno. There was this one game where he had to take a free kick, and the look in his eyes, damn!!! So cool! Since then, I’ve been a fan of his! Later, on his birthday, at Hongkou Stadium, the fans recorded a birthday message for him, and I even made it onto the big screen!
Do you follow other teams besides Shenhua?
I don’t really follow domestic teams anymore. Occasionally, I watch Manchester United with my husband; he’s a fan of both United and Shenhua.
Haha, will you raise your child to be a fan too?
Absolutely! We’ve always instilled in him: Shenhua is the only team in Shanghai! Recently, he even participated in a 5v100 blue-white scrimmage organized by Shenhua, and he got a lot of screen time!
“Pose with Gio, pretending to take a photo together.”
Besides football, do you have any other hobbies?
Fitness, photography, and clubbing, can they be considered hobbies? Haha.
Haha, sure! Lastly, Shanghai Shenhua is playing against Changchun Yatai this afternoon. Do you have any words of encouragement (or criticism) for Shenhua before the match?
I have a habit. Every time Shenhua wins a game, I wear a jersey to work the next day. I haven’t worn a jersey to work for a long time. I want to wear it next Monday!
