Soccer fever grips young folks in Guiyang

Two young players fight for possession of the ball during a soccer match. [Photo/Guiyang.gov.cn]

The first Yingchun Cup youth soccer league match of the year was held on Feb 21 in Guiyang - capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province - at the soccer stadium in Qianlingshan Sports Park.

A total of 16 teams from various clubs in Guiyang were divided into Under-12s and Under-9s to compete in a five-day tournament.

The event was hosted by the Guiyang Soccer Association, with the assistance of the Guiyang Future Star Football Club - aiming to stoke enthusiasm for the game among the young of Guiyang, promote knowledge about it and share its history and spread the word about what the magic of soccer is all about.

"The event was prepared in line with last year's and it was also based on the current development of young soccer in Guiyang," said Mo Weilong, vice chairman of the Guiyang Soccer Association.

"It aims to provide more opportunities for young people to play," Mo added.

The competition was also about public health and inclusivity. A girl's soccer team played against boys, so everyone could appreciate the game regardless of gender.

In addition, the competition also invited students from Guizhou Normal University to be competition judges.

With the soccer competition system in Guiyang still evolving, moving forwards plans are for the Guiyang Football Association to include more age groups to promote the sport's development.