Beijing: As 51-year-old Chinese football legend Yang Chen watched children playing joyfully at the ongoing Beijing youth football tournament, vivid memories of his own participation over four decades ago came flooding back. “I really enjoy those exciting and delightful moments, running side by side with my young teammates, trying to perform our best, and pursuing victories. This is where my dream began,” noted the Beijing native, who participated in the first two editions of the tournament.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the Beijing youth football tournament is also known as the Baidui Cup. In 1984, 112 teams signed up for the inaugural event, while the number has expanded to over 1,000 in recent years. This year, the 42nd edition of the Baidui Cup runs through August 8 to 17. “More kids are getting involved in this traditional tournament. They learn from each other and improve their skills through matches. Their passion shows the great football atmosphere here,” Yang said.
In the current tournament, young players competed on football fields across six districts in Beijing, while their parents and other family members cheered for them throughout, no matter whether it was rainy or sunny in the hot summer. “The Baidui Cup is my most anticipated event in summer vacation. It is like a football party,” said the 10-year-old Li Jinglin during his fifth appearance at the tournament.
Nine-year-old forward Wang Yibo, whose parents, grandmother, and younger sister are his loyal fans, made his debut in the Baidui Cup after playing football for over two years. “At first, I just hoped that he [Wang] could have better physical strength by attending football training sessions every week. Gradually, I found he was self-motivated to make progress step by step. I believe football will always accompany him as he grows up,” said Wang’s mother Guo Lele.
As the tournament has further expanded its influence in recent years, more talents from other cities and even the rest of the world have joined this youth football festival. Coach Ma Zhiqiang brought his players from Rongjiang County, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province to experience the Baidui Cup in Beijing for the first time this year. Rongjiang is the birthplace of China’s renowned Village Super League, also known as Cun Chao.
Children in mountainous areas generally have good leg strength but still need to polish their skills, particularly compared with young players from professional football clubs in Beijing. However, the performance of Rongjiang players at the Baidui Cup amazed everyone. Ma remarked, “My team strictly implemented the game plan. In the first half, they concentrated on defense, while in the second half, they took advantage of their physical strength to make counter-attack. We are all excited to secure several victories here.”
Travelling from thousands of miles away, Zimbabwe’s 11-year-old Christiano Konono competed in the Baidui Cup with his international teammates, who are all from Jadel Football Academy, a youth football club in Beijing founded by a former professional football player Walter Musanhu of Zimbabwe in 2019. Jadel Football Academy dispatched five age-group teams to this summer’s Baidui Cup, with about 150 players from China, Zimbabwe, Japan, and other countries and regions.
Reflecting on the development of the Baidui Cup, Gao Jun, secretary of Beijing Football Association, said, “As the tournament grows in popularity, we organize it annually. There is simply no reason to stop.” Indeed, the Baidui Cup has become an iconic youth football tournament pillared by the enthusiasm of young generations and the support from their families. Almost all elite Beijing native football players have showcased their potential in the Baidui Cup, including former Chinese national team players Shao Jiayi and Liu Ying.