The Guangdong team won five gold medals at the 15th National Games, creating a new legend in grassroots football.

Reporter Wang Wei reports As of now, the Guangdong teams have achieved remarkable results in the ten completed events of the grassroots football competition at the 15th National Games. They won five gold medals in the men's seven-a-side Group A, men's seven-a-side veterans group, men's five-a-side Group A, men's five-a-side Group B, and men's five-a-side veterans group. Additionally, the women's seven-a-side veterans group secured third place, the women's seven-a-side group finished fifth, the women's five-a-side veterans group placed sixth, and the men's seven-a-side Group B came in seventh. Such comprehensive and outstanding results have fulfilled the goal set by the Guangdong Football Association to "surpass the overall performance of the last edition," showcasing the strong vitality and rich heritage of grassroots football in Guangdong to the nation.

This edition of the National Games grassroots football events includes three major categories: seven-a-side, five-a-side, and beach football, with a total of 12 events. As one of the hosts of the 15th National Games, Guangdong sent 12 teams to compete in all 12 events of the grassroots football competition finals. This marks the first time in the history of the National Games that Guangdong football has participated in all events of the grassroots football category. The 12 teams representing Guangdong come from various regions, including Guangzhou, Meizhou, and Zhanjiang, with participants ranging from universities to enterprises, and from students and workers to amateur football enthusiasts, gathering the elite of grassroots football in Guangdong. They carry the honor and mission of representing Guangdong at the National Games.

Next, the men's and women's beach football competitions will kick off in early August in Yangjiang. The men's and women's beach football teams, formed by students from Sun Yat-sen University, both possess impressive strength. Their participation in the National Games for the first time will also reflect the progress made in the integration of sports and education in Guangdong football in recent years.

The achievements of grassroots football in Guangdong are not coincidental but the result of collective efforts. To achieve excellence, the 12 participating teams raced against time during their preparation period, developing a scientific, systematic, and detailed training plan. From the meticulous design of training content to the timing and intensity of training, every aspect reflects the dedication of coaches and players. Simultaneously, athletes undergo comprehensive real-time monitoring and detailed analysis, tailoring support plans and competition strategies to enhance their practical skills and competitive abilities.

During the competitions, the Guangdong Football Association required all teams to strictly follow the instructions of the head coach and coaching staff. The players united with determination, treating every match as an honor battle. The association also emphasized sportsmanship, urging the 12 teams to promote and practice the "志行风格" (Spirit of Commitment), respecting referees, opponents, spectators, and the media, while adhering to professional ethics. In the already concluded matches, the Guangdong teams demonstrated zero disciplinary violations, showcasing the good spirit and sportsmanship of Guangdong footballers.

Building on historical foundations, grassroots football in Guangdong continues to innovate and develop. Over the past 20 years, cities like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Meizhou, Zhanjiang, Foshan, and Zhongshan have developed diverse and year-round amateur football brand events. Since the new leadership took office in the Guangdong Football Association in 2024, there has been a vigorous promotion of the "志行风格" (Spirit of Commitment) in grassroots events across the province, shaping a distinctive football culture in Guangdong and promoting steady development of grassroots football.

On the afternoon of May 29, the championship match for the men's seven-a-side Group A at the grassroots football competition of the 15th National Games kicked off at the Yunxiu Mountain Sports Center in Sanshui District, Foshan City. After a fierce contest, the Guangdong team triumphed over the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps team in a penalty shootout, winning 6-5 (1-1 in regular time), marking the first gold medal for Guangdong football in this edition of the National Games.

The Guangdong team, which won the championship in the men's seven-a-side Group A at the 15th National Games, was formed around the Guangzhou Qiuxin team, with coach Fan Zhirui from the Guangzhou Football Association's youth team invited to lead the squad.

Founded in 2005, the Guangzhou Qiuxin Football Club has just celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. It is a well-established powerhouse in Guangzhou football, competing in various tournaments such as the Iron Wolf Cup and Sanshui La Liga for many years. The club has won numerous awards, including the Red Bull Five-a-Side National Championship, the Wu Gou National Championship, and the Lijiang Tianyu Liufang Cup. In early 2024, they even represented China at the Future Sports Games in Kazan, Russia, reaching the quarter-finals.

"After the Guangdong team for the men's seven-a-side Group A was formed, we decided to strive for the highest honor. The team was assembled right after the Spring Festival," said Luo Wei, the general manager of Guangzhou Qiuxin.

"It was raining during the finals, and the field was quite slippery. After the match, the players were covered in mud," Luo said. "Goalkeeper Wang Ruijing performed excellently. In the penalty shootout, we missed our first shot, but Wang Ruijing saved the opponent's penalty under immense pressure during the last shot. When he prepared to save the final penalty, we knew Guangdong could win!"

Head coach Fan Zhirui stated, "It is both an honor and a sentiment to witness the team winning the National Games gold medal in the Greater Bay Area. I want to thank the Guangdong Sports Bureau and the Guangdong Football Association for their strong support; this championship is a new starting point for us."

On July 9, the final of the men's five-a-side veterans group at the grassroots football competition of the 15th National Games was held in Meizhou. Despite conceding an early goal, the Guangdong team scored four goals in a row, ultimately defeating the Hong Kong team 4-1 to claim victory. This marks the fifth gold medal for the Guangdong team in the grassroots football competition at the 15th National Games.

The Guangdong team in the five-a-side veterans group is coached by former national team player He Yihui and includes experienced players such as Li Jianhua, Gao Jian, Liang Shiming, Wu Haiqing, Huang Nanfang, and Zhao Jian. A total of 10 players on the team hail from Meizhou.

Li Jianhua, who retired from professional football in early 2020, received an invitation to join the National Games team earlier this year. He believes that the Guangdong team's achievement of winning five gold medals at the grassroots football events of the 15th National Games is directly related to the vigorous development of grassroots and amateur football across Guangdong. "I think these five gold medals are inseparable from the football environment in Guangdong," he said.

Before the start of this group’s competition, the Guangdong team was not highly regarded by outsiders. This was because the Hubei team was primarily composed of retired players from the national five-a-side championship team, including former five-a-side player and national team member Li Xin. Although these players are retired, their understanding of five-a-side football remains at the top level in the country. The Guangdong team coincidentally faced the Hubei team in the semifinals. "Shortly after the start of the first half, Hubei began to implement a five-zero strategy, trying to exhaust our stamina. Fortunately, the players remained calm and adhered to the tactical plan we set before the match. During halftime, we unified our tactics for the second half, becoming less conservative and applying full pressure based on our physical advantages, ultimately achieving victory," He Yihui said. "From the defensive play in the first half to the full-court pressing in the second half, the players executed the tactics excellently. I am very grateful for their support and trust."

During the championship journey, there was a detail that particularly stood out for He Yihui. "After successfully reaching the finals, captain Li Jianhua shouted, 'Put in 120% effort for the match, starting with each individual.' In the finals, the Guangdong team reversed the Hong Kong team to win the championship, and Li Jianhua celebrated with his teammates in the locker room, shouting the exhilarating words: 'Guangdong is the champion!'"

In this edition of the grassroots football competition at the 15th National Games, the GAC Group represented Guangdong in the men's five-a-side Group B and won a gold medal; the Foshan Sports Industry Association represented Guangdong in the women's seven-a-side veterans group and secured third place; and the Guangzhou Liede team represented Guangdong in the men's seven-a-side Group B, finishing in seventh place.

The women's five-a-side veterans group and women's seven-a-side football teams from Guangdong, formed by the Zhanjiang Ruihu team, received strong support from the Zhanjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports, the Provincial Football Association, and the Zhanjiang Football Association. "The women's seven-a-side football team trains alongside our professional team preparing for the women's B league, and with the help of the professional team, the squad has made significant progress," said Lü Yanzhe, the team leader of the women's five-a-side veterans group from Guangdong and general manager of Zhanjiang Ruihu.

In this National Games, the women's five-a-side veterans group and women's seven-a-side football teams from Guangdong experienced many unforgettable moments. "Captain Lu Peiyi is a mother of two children. She played until exhaustion in a crucial match for the women's seven-a-side team and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. In the group stage against Zhejiang, we went to penalties. Although the Guangdong team ultimately lost in the penalty shootout, the players still encouraged each other, which deeply moved me," Lü Yanzhe said. "In the five-a-side veterans group, our absolute core, Wang Ni, suffered an unexpected injury the day before the match. On the morning of the competition, her foot was very swollen, and she had to rush to the hospital for treatment. By the afternoon, she was prepared to play despite the injury. Captain Tang Jingyi and Zhang Jingnan, as members of the previous championship team, played crucial roles in the squad. We did not win the first two group stage matches, and the players faced immense pressure in the third match, but ultimately secured a spot for advancement. These details are truly unforgettable."