China’s new improbable football stars

For the ultimate game of the Guizhou Village Super League, thousands of followers have poured into Rongjiang’s soccer stadium in a hot day.

In the climax of this super rowdy, quite local competition, Dangxiang village and Dongmen village square off against one another.

This small, regular, community sports event has become a viral feeling in China, as images have spread across social media of fans dressed in traditional tribal costume, banging drums and cheering on the players who might be farmers, students or shopkeepers.

And these films have piqued the interest of tens of thousands of viewers from all over the nation on any given weekends.

It costs a three-hour pull into the mountains from the municipal capital Guiyang to watch the games in the town league, which is free.

Despite being quoted by state-run advertising, thousands of Chinese visitors have traveled over the past 12 months to soak up the atmosphere, which has increased revenue for the tourism industry by roughly 75 %.

The lodging options are typically smaller hotels that are frequently completely booked when the great games are on.

It’s the best opponent history.

One of the last regions of China to be publicly declared free of “extreme hardship” was this region.

In rural places, the average monthly disposable income was only$ 1,350. This newly organized club, which is only in its next year, has now attracted such a lot of fame that it is transforming the place.

The players ca n’t quite believe it.

” We’re certainly professional athletes. We only love footy”, says Shen Yang.

” Even if there was no Village Super League, we’d play every week. Without sport, I’d feel like living had lost its colour”.

Shen is a 32-year-old medical repair employee who’s just come off an all-night change, but, on the industry, he is one of the major attacking arms for Dongmen community.

He claims that his parents hated him for playing soccer when he was a child, but they are now full changes.

” They did n’t let me play. They threw aside my coaches. But then they’ve set up a stall at the gate to the facility selling ice products”, he laughs.

The economic raise this competition has brought to the area is not just the kids of Shen’s families.

Although it appears that everyone has suddenly surpassed all expectations, those who run small family hotels, restaurants, and street stalls now have legitimate income opportunities.

Dong Yongheng, a player whose Zhongcheng village reached the final last year, is one of the players who has benefited from the tournament far beyond his playing experience.

The former construction worker has succeeded in growing a family business out of football.

The 35-year-old once worked in his auntie’s modest shop preparing rice rolls, a famous Rongjiang street snack.

Now he has opened his own, multi-story restaurant. It even has a store with a store that sells his team’s football jerseys and other memorabilia.

He tells the BBC,” I think people like the village league’s authenticity.”

” Our sporting prowess are not the cause of it,” he said. They like seeing a genuine performance, whether it is by our cheerleading ethnic singers or our players. Tourists adore original and real objects.

Since the competition started last year, the government claims that thousands of new jobs have been created in the region’s underdeveloped farming community as a result of more than 4, 000 new businesses registered in the area.

This tournament has a unique feel because some fans don traditional clothing and show off to their local team.

In the hours before the final, Pan Wenge’s silver headdress jingles and jangles as she speaks enthusiastically, preparing to cheer on Dongmen village.

” When we watch the game, it’s so exciting. We’re really nervous, you feel your heart pumping. And, when we win, we’re so happy. We sing and dance”.

But standing in Dongmen’s way is the younger, faster Dangxiang village team.

Their star striker, Lu Jinfu, the son of itinerant labourers, has just finished high school. He acknowledges the interest of neighborhood kids who want to pose for pictures with him while grinning in a shy manner.

” When I started playing, I did n’t anticipate it to be this way. I did n’t expect us to have such an amazing football atmosphere”, he says.

On the night, his team are indeed too good for Dongmen. Lu scores twice and, after the full-time whistle, the winning team spray each other with soft drinks in celebration.

But the losers do n’t go home empty handed.

” We won two pigs. That’s not bad”, Shen Yang says with a cheeky smile.

And, at their party afterwards, you would not think they were the runners-up.

Down the main street of Dongmen village, there are many places for eating and drinking.

The players receive hugs and kisses from their neighbors, whom they refer to as “aunties.” Win, lose, or draw, they’re still seen as heroes.

And, after all, there is always next year.