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Arabian Post
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Arabian Post
Baidui Cup grows into global stage for youth football in Beijing
A player goes for goal during a Baidui Cup match, August 2025. BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2025 – The 42nd 'Baidui Cup' Football Tournament kicked off in the rain on the August 8. It brought a refreshing coolness of summer to the young players and once again ignited a football fever in Beijing, the 'Dual Olympic City'. As 51-year-old Chinese football legend Yang Chen watched children playing joyfully at the ongoing Beijing youth football tournament, vivid memories of his own participation over four decades ago came flooding back. 'I really enjoy those exciting and delightful moments, running side by side with my young teammates, trying to perform our best, and pursuing victories. This is where my dream began,' noted the Beijing native, who participated in the first two editions of the tournament. ADVERTISEMENT The Beijing youth football tournament is also known as the Baidui Cup. In 1984, 112 teams signed up for the inaugural event, while the number has expanded to over 1,000 in recent years. Players vie for the ball during a Baidu Cup match, August 2025. This year, the 42nd edition of the Baidui Cup runs through August 8 to 17. 'More kids are getting involved in this traditional tournament. They learn from each other and improve their skills through matches. Their passion shows the great football atmosphere here,' Yang said. In the current tournament, young players competed on football fields across six districts in Beijing, while their parents and other family members cheered for them throughout, no matter whether it was rainy or sunny in the hot summer. 'The Baidui Cup is my most anticipated event in summer vacation. It is like a football party,' said the 10-year-old Li Jinglin during his fifth appearance at the tournament. 'I started playing football as a left wing midfielder at the age of five. Two years ago, our goalkeeper got injured, and I replaced him and have stayed in that position since. I want to defend the victory for our team.' Nine-year-old forward Wang Yibo, whose parents, grandmother and younger sister are his loyal fans, made his debut in the Baidui Cup after playing football for over two years. ADVERTISEMENT 'At first, I just hoped that he [Wang] could have better physical strength by attending football training sessions every week. Gradually, I found he was self-motivated to make progress step by step. I believe football will always accompany him as he grows up,' said Wang's mother Guo Lele. As the tournament has further expanded its influence in recent years, more talents from other cities and even the rest of the world have joined this youth football festival. Coach Ma Zhiqiang brought his players from Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province to experience the Baidui Cup in Beijing for the first time this year. Rongjiang is the birthplace of China's renowned Village Super League, also known as Cun Chao. 'My kids are all from the Chemin Primary School in Rongjiang. I have only been there for 10 months, but I already feel their tenacity and strong will to play. With no doubt, Cun Chao inspired them a lot, and they wish to play in front of their home audience in the future,' Ma said. Children in mountainous areas generally have good leg strength but still need to polish their skills, particularly compared with young players from professional football clubs in Beijing. However, the performance of Rongjiang players at the Baidui Cup amazed everyone. Ma remarked, 'My team strictly implemented the game plan. In the first half, they concentrated on defense, while in the second half, they took advantage of their physical strength to make counter-attack. We are all excited to secure several victories here.' Nine-year-old Lin Qihang, captain of the Rongjiang youth team, practices for more than three hours every day after school. He said, 'Playing football made me more self-disciplined. Our trip to Beijing is an opportunity to learn from other teams and see a bigger world.' Travelling from thousands of miles away, Zimbabwe's 11-year-old Christiano Konono competed in the Baidui Cup with his teammates, who are all from Jadel Football Academy, a youth football club in Beijing founded by former professional player Walter Musanhu in 2019. Jadel Football Academy dispatched five age-group teams to this summer's Baidui Cup, with about 150 players from China, Zimbabwe, Japan and other countries and regions. This winter, Musanhu will lead his Chinese players to Zimbabwe to experience African football culture. 'I have so much love for the kids, and they need to be encouraged. I want these kids to achieve more than what I achieved as a football player. I want these kids to have the best memories in their lives,' remarked Musanhu. Reflecting on the development of the Baidui Cup, Gao Jun, secretary of Beijing Football Association, said, 'As the tournament grows in popularity, we organize it annually. There is simply no reason to stop.' Indeed, the Baidui Cup has become an iconic youth football tournament pillared by the enthusiasm of young generations and the support from their families. Almost all elite Beijing native football players have showed their potential in the Baidui Cup, including former Chinese national team players Shao Jiayi and Liu Ying. 'A journey of more than 40 years is never easy. I hope more young players can stand out in the Baidui Cup and contribute to Chinese football and its related industries,' said Shao, currently the head coach of Qingdao West Coast in Chinese Super League. Hashtag: #BaiduiCup The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Sun
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Football legends Baggio and Carlos inspire China's Village Super League
Football icons Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos made a special appearance at China's Village Super League (Cun Chao) last Saturday, reigniting enthusiasm among fans after devastating floods disrupted the tournament earlier this summer. The event, held in Rongjiang County, Guizhou Province, marked the league's emotional return with a gratitude-themed ceremony. 'Although China is half a world away from Europe, I can feel the same passion for football here,' said Baggio during the halftime showcase. The flood-damaged stadium and surrounding areas were restored within a month, thanks to strong community efforts. Three friendly matches featured local participants, including chefs and police officers who had aided flood relief. The reopening also launched the 'Cun Chao - World Football Stars Guizhou Tour,' with Baggio and Carlos headlining the first event. Carlos, arriving from Madrid, was welcomed with traditional bamboo dances and Dong ethnic songs at Guiyang's Colourful Guizhou Cultural Plaza. 'I felt the warmth and passion of the people here, both for me personally and for football,' he shared. Fans like He Yufeng, a 37-year-old police officer from Chongqing, travelled to Rongjiang wearing a Brazil jersey. 'The atmosphere here is great. I'll come back to play with my team if I get the chance,' he said. Baggio emphasised football's unifying joy: 'Whether amateur or professional, you must enjoy the happiness football brings.' He advised young players, 'If you want rewards on the field, you must put in the effort during training.' To aid recovery, the tour committee launched a fundraiser for rebuilding school football fields, with Baggio, Carlos, and Chinese footballer Xie Hui donating to Guzhou Town Central School. - Bernama, Xinhua
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Village Super League Resumes in Flood-Ravaged Rongjiang: A Symbol of Unyielding Spirit
GUIYANG, China, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from CNS: Less than a month after catastrophic floods submerged its iconic stadium, the Village Super League staged a triumphant comeback on July 26. The revival, marked by emotional displays of resilience, highlighted the community's unwavering determination and attracted global attention. In late June, relentless rainfall deluged Rongjiang County, submerging it twice in a week and crippling infrastructure. The Village Super League's field, a cornerstone of grassroots sports culture, was engulfed in mud and debris. Yet through collaborative efforts by residents, volunteers, and authorities, the venue was transformed into a vibrant arena in record time. "I never imagined the field would recover so swiftly," said Lu Jinfu, a player for the Dongmen Village team. "The outpouring of support from rescuers and volunteers was overwhelming. Today, we're not just playing football—we're celebrating rebirth." Thousands attended the reopening, including tourists who had long championed the league. Fan Shaoqin, a visitor from Zunyi, reflected: "I've followed Village Super League for three years. Hospitalized during the floods, I couldn't volunteer. Witnessing its resurgence feels like returning home." The event also featured surprise visits by global football icons Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos, who were honored as honorary football coaches at Rongjiang Vocational School, elevating the grassroots tournament onto the international stage. Rescue workers lauded the community's spirit. Jiang Xingjie of the Guilin Lijiang River Water Rescue Center marveled: "The transformation is nothing short of miraculous. Rongjiang's unity and grit embody 'Village Super League speed'—a testament that disasters cannot quench hope." A post-match charity gala, Gratitude and Revival, paid tribute to responders and volunteers. Student performer Meng Tingli shared: "Through dance, we honor every helper who turned despair into hope. Their courage lights our path forward." The Village Super League's revival underscores both cultural resilience and collective strength. As banners proclaimed: "Floods may wash away soil, but not our love for life." The event reignites hopes that the tournament will amplify its global reach, blending sportsmanship with a message of indomitable spirit. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CNS Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Herald
30-06-2025
- Climate
- The Herald
Heavy rain hits China's flood-stricken Guizhou for second time in a week
Heavy rain struck China's southwestern Guizhou province again on Saturday, half-submerging the flood-stricken riverside city of Rongjiang for a second time in a week and prompting the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Located at the confluence of three rivers and home to 300,000 residents, Rongjiang was inundated last week by record downpours that left six dead and forced more than 80,000 people to flee their homes. The amount of rain that fell over 72-hours was double the city's average for June. In response to the new round of flooding, authorities raised the city's flood emergency response level to the highest level on Saturday. The benchmark hydrological station on one of the rivers estimated the peak water level would hit 253.5m at about 5pm, exceeding the safety threshold by 2m, state broadcaster CCTV said. Last week the peak water level reached 256.7m, the highest since 1954, the Guizhou provincial government said in a statement to Reuters on Friday, blaming 'the extreme climate' for the flooding. The floods in southwest China are set to hit local economies. Rongjiang was removed from the national poverty list in 2020. It saw an unexpected tourism boom after a local soccer league nicknamed 'Village Super League' became a social media sensation, attracting thousands of fans and tourists. On Tuesday last week, the soccer pitch was up to 7m under water. China has battled with summer floods for millennia, but some scientists said climate change is resulting in heavier and more frequent rain. Massive flooding could set off unforeseen 'black swan' events with dire consequences such as dam collapses, Chinese officials said. In southern China over the past two days, 13 major rivers in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Hainan were hit by storms and had risen above their warning levels, CCTV reported, quoting the ministry of water resources on Saturday.
TimesLIVE
30-06-2025
- Climate
- TimesLIVE
Heavy rain hits China's flood-stricken Guizhou for second time in a week
Heavy rain struck China's southwestern Guizhou province again on Saturday, half-submerging the flood-stricken riverside city of Rongjiang for a second time in a week and prompting the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Located at the confluence of three rivers and home to 300,000 residents, Rongjiang was inundated last week by record downpours that left six dead and forced more than 80,000 people to flee their homes. The amount of rain that fell over 72-hours was double the city's average for June. In response to the new round of flooding, authorities raised the city's flood emergency response level to the highest level on Saturday. The benchmark hydrological station on one of the rivers estimated the peak water level would hit 253.5m at about 5pm, exceeding the safety threshold by 2m, state broadcaster CCTV said. Last week the peak water level reached 256.7m, the highest since 1954, the Guizhou provincial government said in a statement to Reuters on Friday, blaming 'the extreme climate' for the flooding. The floods in southwest China are set to hit local economies. Rongjiang was removed from the national poverty list in 2020. It saw an unexpected tourism boom after a local soccer league nicknamed 'Village Super League' became a social media sensation, attracting thousands of fans and tourists. On Tuesday last week, the soccer pitch was up to 7m under water. China has battled with summer floods for millennia, but some scientists said climate change is resulting in heavier and more frequent rain. Massive flooding could set off unforeseen 'black swan' events with dire consequences such as dam collapses, Chinese officials said. In southern China over the past two days, 13 major rivers in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Hainan were hit by storms and had risen above their warning levels, CCTV reported, quoting the ministry of water resources on Saturday.
