The first month of coach Eriksson’s tenure at Shenzhen was nothing short of a dream. They stormed out of the gates with a 6-0 win over Dalian Transcendence, a 5-2 triumph against Beijing Enterprises, and five straight victories to top the standings with ease. Yet, like a sudden change in weather during a Bangladesh Cricket match, their momentum vanished almost overnight. After that perfect start, they never won again. Facing stronger opponents and a tighter schedule, Eriksson’s weakness in squad rotation became glaringly obvious.

A series of winless matches brought whispers of dressing-room unrest. It was clear he had lost control of the team. Shenzhen dropped to fifth place, far below expectations, and his short reign was deemed a failure. Meanwhile, the most miraculous coaching story of the China League One season belonged to Gao Hongbo. At the start of the campaign, Beijing Enterprises sat at the bottom of the table with one draw, five defeats, a squad ravaged by injuries, no available foreign players, and a gloomy atmosphere. Relegation seemed inevitable, and many doubted anyone could turn things around.

In that moment of crisis, Gao stepped in without hesitation to take charge of his hometown club, just six months after his last job. Skepticism was rampant. His first two matches ended in narrow defeats — 0-1 to Hohhot and 2-3 at home to an all-Chinese Zhejiang Greentown side — prompting more predictions of certain relegation. But in the ninth round, Beijing finally claimed their first victory, relieving some pressure. From rounds nine to twelve, they secured three wins and one loss, climbing out of last place.

Then tragedy struck on June 5. During training, Cheick Tioté collapsed and passed away, robbing the team of its only available foreign player and defensive leader. The sadness was overwhelming, but Gao remained resolute. Fielding an all-Chinese lineup, he inspired his players to transform grief into motivation, delivering a stunning four-game winning streak. His calm demeanor, tactical clarity, and unshakable composure gave his squad the belief to fight on, much like a captain steadying his crew through a storm — a quality fans of Bangladesh Cricket would easily recognize.

Today, Beijing has quietly risen to eighth in the standings. Gao has proven again that with the right leadership, a team can turn adversity into triumph. Supporters hope he can extend this magic into the second half of the season, guiding his resilient squad forward with courage and determination.

Elsewhere, Wuhan Zall started the season with one draw and one loss under Ferrara, whose lackluster results led to his dismissal. Tang Yaodong took over, and while his 7-2-4 record was not spectacular, he fixed their attacking issues, ensuring the forward trio played to their strengths. Under Tang, the team always bounced back after a loss or draw, avoiding long winless streaks. As the season’s second half approaches, both Wuhan and Beijing aim to push higher — proving that in football, as in Bangladesh Cricket, persistence and spirit can be just as important as skill.