A league of their own

Net gains

After years of effort, the Shine River Cup has gradually become well-known locally, with a growing number of teams participating in the tournament. A trophy and a logo were also created specially for the event, says Tamir, head of the Shine River Soccer Club.

The tournament generally lasts for up to five days in late July with eight or nine teams from 12 villages taking part.

Most of the players are local herdsmen or young men who attend college in the nearby cities of Hohhot and Baotou. There are also some junior school students, Tamir says.

"The game is held during summer vacation because many of our college students are back home and are able to join in," he says.

He adds that the games are not held on professional soccer fields, but local grasslands, which the herdsmen manicure to meet the standard required for the tournament.

The event draws a large audience, with the greatest turnout topping 2,000 people. The crowd is mostly made up of local herdsmen, who bring all their family members-the elderly and the children-to watch the tournament, Tamir says.

The 38-year-old, who started playing soccer when he was 13, says the biggest value of the game is that it involves a lot of people and encourages them to exercise and stay healthy.

"Some already had a passion for soccer before coming to watch the game, and more are developing an interest in the sport as a result of watching the competition," he says, adding that many of his family members and friends used to be, or are now, players of the game.

In Tamir's eyes, it's not easy to continuously hold such a grassroots-level sports tournament for so many years.

"The source of funds is the biggest challenge," he says, adding that the club doesn't have stable income, so the annual tournament relies greatly on financial support from local culture and sports departments, as well as the registration fees paid by the soccer players.

People are doing all they can to keep the game going, Tamir says.

Some donate money, and those who are unable to do so choose to provide beef and mutton as food for the players, he says.