Soccer league helps Guizhou connect with world

In May last year, Brazilian soccer star Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, aka Kaka, visited Guizhou and played in a charity match in Rongjiang county.

In September, 24 diplomats from countries including Argentina, Mexico and Brazil played a friendly match against a local team in the county.

The local players are not professionals but farmers, construction workers, teachers and students, brought together by their shared passion for the game. On the field, they represent the pride and aspirations of their respective villages.

In the stands, traditionally attired local villagers and international tourists cheer their favorite teams together. Rongjiang's stadiums, where admission is free, are packed for every game.

Wang Yonggui, who was a shop owner and member of the Fenghuang village team, played in the international match held in late September. "We're amateurs, but soccer brings joy to everyone on the team," he said.

Wang is an avid Cristiano Ronaldo fan. "I admire his discipline and passion," he said, pointing to his collection of Ronaldo jerseys and posters at home.

"Soccer connects us to new friends and a bigger world," he added.

Bridging worlds

When Kaka stepped onto the field in Rongjiang wearing jersey number 22 on May 28, the crowd erupted in cheers, chanting "Come on" in the Dong ethnic group language.

During the match, Kaka scored a stunning goal, which he celebrated with his signature gesture of pointing to the sky. Beyond the field, he encouraged local girls to compete in a youth game, recalled one spectator.

"In Brazil, we grow up playing soccer — it is part of our culture. What I saw here today is quite the same," Kaka shared.

Marcelo Gabriel Suarez Salvia, the Argentine ambassador to China, echoed the sentiment. "Many of us, as Latin Americans and from the Caribbeans, feel a connection to Cun Chao. In the passion of the children and players of Rongjiang for the sport, we see the same dreams that resonate in our region."

After the game, Kaka proudly held up local specialties Tashixiang lamb and Xiaoxiang chicken, all the while grinning from ear to ear.

"The Village Super League is more than a sports event; it's a carnival blending soccer, food and ethnic culture," said Ouyang Zhangwei, the league's project head.

Guizhou has a rich cultural tapestry, being home to 17 ethnic minority groups, including the Miao, Bouyei, Dong and Yi.

During game breaks, the crowd enjoys Miao folk songs and the Dong Grand Song, an intangible cultural heritage. Foreign visitors, enchanted by the vibrant ethnic culture, often join the celebrations.

"We have started receiving international tourists since July 2023, and they are very curious about everything in our village," said committee director Cen Jianglong of Taipan, a village in the province's Taijiang county.

The recognition of their culture has been gratifying for Cen. "I remember a group of tourists being fascinated by our intangible cultural heritage, such as the wooden drum dance. They even joined in, moving to the rhythm of the drum beats."

Cun BA, a village basketball league that started in Taipan village in 2022, has also gained international attention. In July, NBA player Danny Green played in a charity match in the county, and after the game, wore a Miao silver necklace on the court and danced hand in hand with locals.

Zhang Hongjun, a village basketball player, said, "I have always dreamed of going to the NBA, but I never expected that one day these players would come to my hometown, learn our Miao language and participate in the ethnic dance with us."

While the Village Super League celebrates local traditions, it is also an opportunity for the young generation to connect with the global soccer community.

In November, a Rongjiang youth team traveled to Brazil. As part of the league's exchange program, the six-member team visited the iconic Maracana Stadium and trained with CR Flamengo, a top club in Rio de Janeiro.

On Nov 16, the children attended the first leg of the Brazilian Women's Soccer Premier League and appeared on the field as ball kids for the Flamengo team.

For 10-year-old Xu Xiangyang, the trip was an eye-opener. "Brazil's stadiums are huge and their players are so skilled. I can see the confidence and brilliance shining in their eyes," he said.

Xu, who has been playing soccer for two years, told China Daily that he was inspired by a foreign soccer star he saw on TV, whose charisma left a lasting impression.

"Although we lost to the Flamengo player, I am very excited and happy. Their passes, physical fitness and positioning are much better than ours, and there is still a lot for us to learn," Xu said. "I want to see more of the world and, one day, become the kind of player I admire most."

This is not the first time Rongjiang soccer teams have participated in international exchanges. In December 2023, a youth women's team visited Spain to meet with Real Madrid players, while a Guizhou team traveled to France for a competition in July last year.

During the National Day holiday, Rongjiang county welcomed nearly 500,000 visitors — over 100,000 more than its permanent population. This influx generated 602 million yuan ($821 million) in tourism revenue, marking a 22 percent year-on-year increase.

Rongjiang has hosted delegations of diplomats as well as soccer teams from nations like Portugal, England and Brazil ever since the league started.