From "Village BA" (Village Basketball Association) to "Village Football Association Super League," this summer has seen a surge in rural sports enthusiasm! In the Chongkou Street of Liwan District, Guangzhou, the 29th "National Day Cup" football tournament organized by the Kengkou Economic Cooperative (hereinafter referred to as the "Kengkou Village National Day Cup") has made a triumphant return after a hiatus of three years.

The Kengkou Village National Day Cup was founded in 1995 and has been regularly held in the run-up to the National Day every year, except during the pandemic. What's the secret behind its remarkable 29-year run? In a recent interview, we dug deep to uncover the passion behind this local football tradition.

Generations of village residents participating

Since the opening of the Kengkou Village National Day Cup on September 15th, villagers have been flocking to the Kengkou Elementary School football field every evening to watch the matches. Chen Shubin, the president of the Kengkou Economic Cooperative's fourth branch, brought his granddaughter to the field to watch the games. He is one of the organizers of the football tournament.

He stated, "The football tournament has been about the villagers enjoying themselves, celebrating the National Day, and providing a platform for enhancing fitness and friendship through the sport. We hope it remains a pure, fair, and physically and mentally beneficial competition."

While Chen Shubin, who participated in ten consecutive editions of the Kengkou Village National Day Cup, didn't step onto the field this year, three generations of his family members found different ways to get involved: his son, Chen Junjie, is a key player on one of the teams, and his five-year-old granddaughter enjoys running around the field in a football jersey, holding a ball.

Boosting football enthusiasm in the village's elementary school

Over the years, the Kengkou Village National Day Cup has been regularly held at Kengkou Elementary School, laying the foundation for the school to become a football-focused institution.

Yang Guochao, the principal of Kengkou Elementary School in Liwan District, mentioned that the popularity of football courses and outstanding achievements have led to the official naming of the Liwan District primary and secondary school football tournament as the "Kengkou Cup" in 2012.

Chen Junjie, Zuo Jianhao, Chen Jiahao, Huang Qiyu... These "football kids" who emerged from Kengkou Elementary School were once selected for the Guangzhou Youth Representative Team. Chen Jiahao, in particular, received five years of football training at the Club Atlético de Madrid in Spain after being scouted during a match.

Returning football prodigies

During our visit, the tournament was nearing its conclusion, and among the participants were several "football kids" who had graduated from Kengkou Elementary School.

In Kengkou Village, when you mention "going abroad for football," the first name that comes to mind is Chen Jiahao. During his high school years, Chen Jiahao had the most precious football experience when he was selected by the Club Atlético de Madrid in Spain after a game. He received football training abroad and played for the national youth team from 2017 to 2018.

This year's Kengkou Village National Day Cup marked Chen Jiahao's debut in the village tournament. He shared, "Due to continuous training abroad, this year, I have the opportunity to participate in the competition as a member of the fourth branch's team. I am excited and looking forward to competing for the championship."

On the field, alongside Chen Jiahao, was the player Huang Qiyu, born in the 2000s. He said, "From the age of 16 to now, I have participated in four editions of the Kengkou Village National Day Cup. Returning to compete after studying abroad, I feel a strong sense of familiarity and belonging."

图集｜民间“村超”迎国庆！来围观广州荔湾这个举办了29届的足球赛

从“村BA”到“村超”，这个夏天，乡村体育火了！在广州市荔湾区冲口街道，坑口经济联社第29届“国庆杯”足球赛（以下简称“坑口村‘国庆杯’足球赛”）阔别三年后回归。

坑口村“国庆杯”足球赛创办于1995年，除了疫情期间停办，多年来定期在国庆前夕举办。为何坑口“村超”能持续办29届？近日，记者走访挖掘背后的足球情。

数代村民参与

自9月15日坑口村“国庆杯”足球赛开幕后，坑口小学足球场数晚都有村民前来围观球赛。坑口经济联社四社社长陈树彬带着孙女来到球场观赛，现在他是足球赛的筹备人之一。

他表示：“足球赛一直是以村民自娱自乐、喜迎国庆为举办初衷，让村民有强身健体、以球会友的平台。我们希望这是纯粹的、公平的、有益身心的比赛。”

曾连续参加10届坑口村“国庆杯”足球赛的陈树彬今年虽然没有上场踢，但他家中的三代人以不同方式参与：儿子陈俊杰是球队的主力；5岁的孙女也喜欢穿着球衣、抱着足球在赛场周边奔跑。

助力“村小”足球发展

多年来，坑口村“国庆杯”足球赛定期在坑口小学开赛，为坑口小学打造足球特色学校打下基础。

广州市荔湾区坑口小学校长杨国超表示，学校足球课程普及和成绩凸显，荔湾区中小学生校园足球赛也于2012年被正式冠名为“坑口杯”。

陈俊杰、左键豪、陈伽豪、黄启誉……这些从坑口小学走出来的“足球仔”曾被选送至广州市中学生代表队，陈伽豪在升学后曾走进西班牙马德里竞技足球俱乐部接受5年的足球训练。

数位“足球仔”回归

记者走访期间，赛程已进入尾声，参赛的球员就有从坑口小学毕业的“足球仔”。

在坑口村中，提起“留洋”的“足球仔”，村民第一反应就是陈伽豪。在中学阶段，陈伽豪迎来了最为宝贵的足球历练，他因一次比赛被西班牙马德里竞技足球俱乐部选拔出国，接受足球培训，在2017年至2018年期间，效力国青队。

今年坑口村“国庆杯”足球赛是陈伽豪在村赛中的首秀，“由于之前一直在国外训练，今年我有机会以四社球员身份参加比赛，既兴奋又期待争冠”。

球场上，和陈伽豪并肩作战的还有“00后”黄启誉：“从16岁至今，我参加了四届坑口村‘国庆杯’足球赛。在外读书回来参赛，有着浓烈的亲切感和归属感。”

文｜记者 马思泳
图｜记者 陈秋明
翻译丨刘佳慧
责编丨古司祺
校对丨苏敏