In this photo taken with a mobile phone, Zhu Xiaolong (2nd R) plays football with students at the Weifeng Central School in Huyi District of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Nov. 30, 2023.(Xinhua/Sun Zhenghao)
Wearing a whistle around his neck, Zhu Xiaolong, 35, was providing football coaching to 14 students of a primary school in northwest China's Shaanxi Province when the school bell unexpectedly rang. Swiftly returning to the classroom, he grabbed a ruler and switched to his other role.
"Now who can tell me the formula used to calculate the area of a circle?" asked Zhu, who is also a math teacher at the Weifeng Central School in Huyi District of Xi'an, Shaanxi's capital.
Speaking about his dual role, Zhu said, "I want to become the best football coach among math teachers, and the best math teacher among football coaches."
An ardent football fan since childhood, over the last nine years, he has coached more than 200 children in the sport and guided the school team to victory in the district league on three occasions.