A former businessman with a passion for soccer is hoping the principles of kungfu can save soccer in China, where the game has been dented recently by gambling scandals involving senior officials, club managers and players.

Kong Debao, a soccer enthusiast and executive director of the SMK Kungfu Soccer Club, told METRO on Wednesday that by bringing the merits of kungfu onto the soccer pitch, he hopes players will become more agile and develop stronger minds, improving weaknesses among Chinese soccer players.

"I was very anxious about the fate of the Chinese soccer and that's why I wanted to restart this club," he said.