Chad Lewis, the ambassador of the NFL in China, says he has two expectations for the sport's future in China and promises to make extra efforts to achieve them.

"One expectation is that the sport will get more and more popular. And the people will know more and more star players like Ben Watson and me," said the former Philadelphia Eagles tight end.

"The second is, pretty soon we will have Chinese football players playing in NFL, and in the coming years, a player from China becoming a very, very big star. As big as Yao Ming."

Lewis, who speaks Chinese after studying in Taiwan, said he'd love to be involved in promoting the NFL in China on a long-term basis.

"People in China ask, 'Why do you think it will work in China?' Well when you get the ball and go out in a park and just start throwing it around, it's a lot of fun. The joy of just doing that is enough.

"Whether it was through something on TV or through the flag football program, I think it would be very exciting to be part of building it up from the grassroots level.

"In the past couple of years, the efforts of the NFL have grown in China. We start the flag program with 84 schools and now we have 124. The fun thing is the schools who do not have the program want it."

But he admitted hard work is needed.

"There will be more efforts and resources put into China. People in the USA are beginning to understand more and more how important China is.

"We will try to find kickers, receivers, quarterbacks and there will be a whole team from China."

Chad also singled out the importance of coaches, and exposure of the sport.

"In the past years, I have opened football clinics. I worked for coaches, referees and players. We will continue to do the job and also make efforts to give the sport wider exposure by co-operating with media.

"Coach is the leader of the team. You have a real responsibility, to make them good students, good players and good people. Coaches have a huge, huge impact on the students," he added.

(China Daily July 11, 2007)