Youths from Belt and Road countries played football friendly in Meizhou

2017-Apr-24       Source: Newsgd.com

2017 International Youth Friendship Football Games and the 2nd International Youth Sports Dialogue were held in Meizhou from April 21 to 23, 2017.

Players of different teams celebrate together. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

2017 International Youth Friendship Football Games and the 2nd International Youth Sports Dialogue were held in Meizhou from April 21 to 23, 2017. Eight youth football teams participated in the event, with players from over 30 countries and regions along the Belt and Road.


Players of different teams celebrate together. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

On April 22, the games kicked off at the R&F Soccer School in Meixian District, Meizhou. After one-day competition, Asia-Africa-Europe Team from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) won the championship, with the second and third places going to Jiaying University Team and Overseas Student Team from Southern Medical University respectively.


Players of different teams celebrate together. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

A Japanese student of Silk Road Team from GDUFS told the reporter that his team members are from Japan, South Korea, People’s Republic of Mongolia and Arab countries, and speak different languages; since they just started university lately in Guangdong, they were not very good at English, but they had no problem in communication; “because all of us love soccer a lot, and we are here to communicate and learn,” said the student.


A foreign student receives interview. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Angolan student Benjamin of Asia-Africa-Europe Team from GDUFS said that he was impressed by the friendship among players and the congenial atmosphere of the competition, and he made many new friends as well as enjoyed the games very much.


A football match is ongoing. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Cameroonian student Jack from Southern Medical University spoke Mandarin fluently. He shared that people in his country took football as a hobby and enjoyed playing football very much.


Football players in a match. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Apart from the games, the foreign players also spoke highly of the beautiful sceneries in Meizhou. Ukrainian player Alexander from China Radio International Team told the reporter in fluent Mandarin that he found the view, the air and the food really amazing in the city. “I will definitely come back to visit Meizhou with my wife and kids,” said Alexander.


Guests have a discussion at the dialogue. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

On April 23, the 2nd International Youth Sports Dialogue was carried out with the theme of “opportunity and challenge in youth football industry”. At the dialogue, about 250 attendees shared their thoughts and discussed the future of youth football industry, including experts and football fans from at home and abroad as well as consuls general of foreign countries in Guangzhou.


Screen shot of Bora Milutinović delivering a speech through the video. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

It is worth mentioning that Bora Milutinović, former head coach of Chinese national soccer team, delivered a speech through video, talking about Chinese teenage football players training program targeting 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar.

When being asked what should be done now, he said it is necessary to train young players. He believed that the future of a nation’s soccer team depended on talented players, which would be even better if these players are young.

Related news: China's World Cup hope rekindled with 1-0 victory over South Korea

(by Monica)


A guest delivers a speech at the dialogue. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Guests attend the dialogue. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Players of CRI Team pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Players are ready for the game. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


Players warm up before the game. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]


A football match is ongoing. [Photo provided to Newsgd.com]

Editor: Monica Liu

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