The success of China's national soccer team in qualifying for its first ever World Cup Finals prompted an outburst of football frenzy the length and breadth of the world's most populous nation this summer.
Some of the estimated 15 million girls and women who play regularly here could have been forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about.
After all, the female squad made it to the actual World Cup final of their equivalent event x before their male counterparts got within sniffing distance of the last 32.
China ClubFootball, a group which has already boosted grassroots appreciation of the game in and beyond Beijing, now hopes to tap the growing interest amongst women in the beautiful game.
The group is now canvassing interest among women of all ages and nationalities interested in setting up informal games at any level of ability in Beijing.
More than 160 men already play regularly in China ClubFootball's weekend leagues.
Business development manager Keith Bradbury explained the thinking behind the latest move: "This is a new idea for us. Basically through our own league we have been getting more and more interest from men. That has translated into wives, girlfriends and colleagues coming along to watch and some of them becoming interested in doing something similar themselves.
"It offers a great getaway for one day of the week. More women have been saying that they would play if we got something organized."
Realistically, he anticipates the first step involving five-a-side indoor football, using venues such as the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB).
Women would be offered some basic training, ensuring that even those who have never played before would have a chance to get hooked on the world's most popular game.
According to Bradbury, a minimum of 10 women would be enough to get such a venture up and running, with word of mouth then promoting it more widely.
Beijing's cosmopolitan population mix could provide women's football an ideal launch-pad. The game is firmly established in both the United States and Britain.
This year's British-produced film, "Bend it Like Beckham", centering on the struggles of an amateur team, proved a massive worldwide hit at the box office.
In China, stars like Sun Wen (above), the diminutive architect of many of the national women team's triumphs, have gone on to win acclaim playing in the fully developed women's soccer league set-up in the United States.
It was Sun who shone at the 1999 final in the United States when an excellent squad was cruelly defeated in a penalty shoot-out by the host nation.
Revenge may come at next year's Women's World Cup which is being hosted by China in September and October.
China will also host the Asian Cup the following year.
Sun, later picked up by US outfit Atlanta Beat, herself picked up the Golden Ball trophy at the 1999 World Cup after scoring seven goals in six games.
The woman once dubbed "Maradona in a skirt" also became the first women to be named Asian Football Player of the Year.
Indeed the domestic press has quite often used the triumphs of the women's national team in order to give an image of China as a superpower of world soccer. The efforts of Sun Wen and her team-mates to a large extent paved the way for the growth of Milutinovic's national men's team.
Meanwhile, the women's games planned by China ClubFootball - which is also in the process of organizing winter indoor sessions for men - are open to everyone aged 16 and above of any skill level or nationality.
To get involved, call ClubFootball on 6417 0495 or mail:play@wanguoqunxing.com.
(Beijing Weekend December 31, 2002)
