Searching for the Chinese Cruyff

Kids are put through their paces at the school, which is co-run by Dutch giant Ajax. [Photo provided to chinadaily]

Challenges

Engelkes said one particular challenge is that Chinese kids - due partly to a rote-learning education system - are used to being told what to do.

"They don't think for themselves ... but if you are in the game, you need to make your own decisions," he said.

On a more rudimentary level, there has been a problem with local staff smoking on the site.

The ultimate goal is to produce players for Guangzhou R&F's first team and the Chinese national squad, while also training Chinese coaches to carry on the project after the Dutch leave.

So what does Ajax get out of this?

It receives an annual fee and when the multimillion-euro agreement was announced, Edwin van der Sar, the former Netherlands and Manchester United goalkeeper who is now a senior Ajax official, spoke about growing the Dutch club's brand in Asia.

But he and Engelkes stress that coaching is the prime motivation.

"You have to extend and share your knowledge, and maybe (in return) that will bring us other things," said Engelkes.

For example, Ajax will be in prime position to snare any particularly talented local players or coaches.

So will a Chinese Cruyff, Bergkamp or Kluivert roll off the production line one day?

"Why not? It's a big country so there must be talent here," said Engelkes.