27.02.10 | at Belgian Footballwebsite
Chinese Football Association is determined to clean out match-fixing scandal. Two Teams have been punished for match-fixing scandal and have been relegated down to 2nd Division. One of the teams happens to be Brendon Santalab's team. Santalab was a revelation for the Blades last season, scoring nine goals in 13 appearances as the  team finished 7th on the Chinese Super League table, but sadly they have been punished with relegation down to 2nd Division.

- Chinese Super League clubs involved in match-fixing scandal, what happened?

There has been match fixing and illegal gambling happening in China for some years now. Chinese football has suffered from this and they are going through a stage of cleaning up the game to make football in China bigger and stronger. For my club Chengdu Blades, it is in similar situation to when Italian Club Juventus were relegated to Serie B. Many players and people from the club have stayed loyal to Chengdu Blades, as it was the case with Juventus when they were relegated. Loyalty played a big part.

- Even though all this scandal happened back in 2006, it is not an ideal situation for your personal career to be relegated down to 2nd division...

The match fixing scandal which my club was involved in happened back in 2006. I am a very loyal person and I have a 2 year contract with the club. We had a great season last season and the club have been great to me. Although we have been relegated I think this club has a great future and that’s why I will remain with Chengdu Blades for 2 more years and try to help them win promotion back to Super League immediately, this season.

- It must be frustrating for you. They brought you to the club to help them stay in First Division as they were on the bottom of the league table last season before you arrived. You scored 9 goals in 13 games. They remained in Super League finishing 7th on the table, but now you are being punished with relegation down to 2nd division for something that happened back in 2006…

Yes, of course it is frustrating but it is not the end of the world. Nobody likes to play in the 2nd division. Everybody likes to play in the top leagues wherever it is in the world but I believe the club has a very strong chance of winning the 2nd division and joining the Chinese Super League once again next season. That is clearly the intention of the club and players. That was enough to convince me to stay with Chengdu Blades. A winning mentality is what I like! The Spirit in the club is good and everybody is looking forward to the new season.

- What do you know about the standard of Chinese 2nd division Football League?

The Chinese 2nd division is completely new to me but I have had discussions with the manager in regards to the league and the style of football that is played. It is all new to me though and I will just take it as it comes and prepare as best as I can for it. 

- How would you compare the level of football between the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and the Chinese Super League…?    

Its very difficult to compare the 2 leagues. The Belgian Jupiler League is very strong and is played at a very high tempo. Chinese players are technically very good but are not as physical, they are fast but I feel you get more time on the ball and the football is more open here in China compared to Belgium. In all the countries I have played in, the style of football has been different although the Belgium Jupiler League has been the toughest league for me so far!