Guangzhou Sport University has made a remarkable achievement by winning two gold medals in the football events at the 15th National Games.

Reporters Wang Wei and intern Li Xin report In this year's 15th National Games football competitions, the Guangdong team won five gold medals in the men's seven-a-side A group, veterans group, and men's and women's five-a-side A groups, achieving overall results that exceeded the last event. Among them, Guangzhou Sport University (referred to as GSU) formed teams for the men's veterans seven-a-side and men's and women's five-a-side A groups to represent Guangdong Province, winning two gold medals and delivering an impressive performance.

As the first football academy established after the release of the "Overall Plan for the Reform and Development of Chinese Football," GSU's Football Academy has always been committed to "promoting Southern football culture and nurturing football talents in China" with strong support and careful guidance from the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, striving for progress and reform. Notably, Zhang Zhi, a teacher at the academy, is not only the head coach of the Guangdong team for the National Games grassroots football selection training but also serves as the head coach for both the men's five-a-side A and B groups. Additionally, he is a player on the men's veterans seven-a-side team, representing Guangdong in both coaching and player roles to win three gold medals in the football competitions at the 15th National Games.

The weighty gold medals are the result of the collective efforts of GSU, systematic scientific preparations, and multi-party collaboration, vividly showcasing the profound foundation of grassroots football in Guangdong.

GSU's championship team: Coach Zhang Zhi (first from the left), Team Leader Mai Quanan (second from the left), GSU Football Academy Director Zhu Guilin (third from the left), Coach Zhang Bo (first from the right) (Photo: Wang Wei)

"With strong support from all levels, a challenging process, and a perfect outcome," these twelve words encapsulate GSU's experience in participating in three events. The bidding system for team selection in this grassroots competition provided opportunities as well as challenges for GSU.

In November last year, during a business trip to Ningxia, GSU's Vice Dean Mai Quanan and teacher Zhang Zhi meticulously prepared bidding materials in their hotel, covering infrastructure, training plans, personnel, and other aspects. After submission, the materials were reviewed by experts organized by the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau and the Provincial Football Association, leading to the decision to grant the school the right to form three teams, including those for the men's five-a-side A group and the men's veterans seven-a-side competitions.

"The school leadership said, if we take on this task, we must do it well." GSU placed great importance on this event. The school's Party Secretary Mi Yinjun emphasized the need for serious preparations and effective coordination among teachers and students in teaching, learning, and training.

To prepare effectively for the grassroots football competitions at the National Games, GSU established a leadership team led by President Hu Min. The school's leadership coordinated efforts across multiple departments to create a scientifically sound event support system. Lei Jianjun, a deputy-level official from the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, and Xie Changjing, President of the Provincial Football Association, frequently visited training sessions to provide guidance; Vice Presidents Li Yu and Zhang Yufang closely monitored training progress, while Minister of Student Affairs Liao Yuansheng and Director of Training and Competition Xue Wenzhong tirelessly cheered for the team at the competition venue.

Behind the success lies hard work and scientific preparation. After being granted team formation rights, all teams devoted themselves to training, with players starting their sessions on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. Mai Quanan stated, "At that time, we were determined to secure the team qualification, so after submitting our application materials, we focused on preparation." He believes that without careful planning, forming a team at the last minute and expecting to win is nearly impossible.

Mai Quanan

Compared to the previous National Games, where teams were limited to county and district levels, this year's event allowed for free team formation across the province. As a result, the level of competition in grassroots football has significantly improved compared to the last edition. For instance, in the five-a-side B group, there were 24 teams in the preliminaries, with competition intensity rivaling that of the 11-a-side competitive group.

The path to victory for the men's five-a-side A group was remarkable. Among the twelve players in this team, eight are current students of GSU, two are alumni, and two are from other schools. They showcased their strength during the competition, ultimately defeating the Shanghai team 4-1 to claim the championship. Despite winning the title, the team's training was not without challenges. The men's A group was led by Mai Quanan, with Zhang Zhi as head coach, closely collaborating with the Shenzhen Nanling Iron Wolves football club. Due to the lack of specialized five-a-side training facilities at the school, the team made four trips to the Iron Wolves club for intensive training.

Zhang Zhi

The victory of the Guangdong team in the men's veterans seven-a-side group was equally exhilarating. The age limit for participants in this group is between 46 and 60 years. Initially, the team felt that winning would be difficult, but they performed outstandingly, winning all six matches with more than a three-goal advantage in each, culminating in a 5-1 victory over the Sichuan team in the finals. This team is led by Zhang Bo, a teacher at GSU, while Zhang Zhi serves as the head coach for the men's five-a-side A group and also participates as a player in the seven-a-side veterans group, embodying both a gold medal coach and a gold medal athlete.

Zhang Bo

Guan Zhichao, a teacher at GSU and assistant coach for the men's five-a-side A group, expressed, "Participating in the National Games has left a deep impression on me. Previously, as a player, I focused more on the game; this time, as a coach, I considered how to overcome opponents in terms of tactics and psychology."

The players in the men's veterans seven-a-side group each have their own jobs and can only train during their spare time, mainly from 7 to 9 PM. Some players even need to take high-speed trains or drive from Shenzhen and Meizhou to attend training. However, the veterans overcame the physical challenges posed by age, relying on solid skills and strong team cohesion to achieve victory. Wang Jun, the team leader and Vice Dean of GSU's Football Academy, couldn't help but exclaim, "The entire team is driven by a strong desire for gold medals, with each member silently contributing without complaint, which is truly remarkable." Zhang Bo, the head coach of the men's veterans seven-a-side team and a teacher at GSU, commented on his team: "The veterans give their all in every match, fully utilizing Guangdong's traditional technical advantages, with excellent overall awareness and cohesion. Once I lay out the tactics, the players efficiently execute them."

To adapt to the competition's rhythm, each team conducted simulated matches with the organization and support of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau's Social Sports and Training Competition Center and the Provincial Football Association. The three men's seven-a-side teams utilized the May Day holiday to hold simulated matches at a venue in Foshan Sanshui; the five-a-side team organized matches in Panyu, inviting other teams to participate. The simulated match format was three days of play followed by one day of rest, mirroring the National Games schedule to help players acclimate to the competition's intensity.

As the host, the Guangdong team did not need to participate in preliminaries, but to gain a comprehensive understanding of their opponents, the head coaches of several teams traveled to Lanzhou, Ningxia, and other places to watch matches and analyze opponents' tactics in depth. Zhang Zhi, serving as the head coach for both the men's five-a-side A and B groups and the men's seven-a-side B group, while also being a player in the veterans group, had a heavy workload. Ultimately, he represented Guangdong in both coaching and player capacities, winning three gold medals at this competition. During the training process, his child and wife fell ill with a high fever, yet he continued to lead the team. Teacher Zheng Mourong's father was also sick, but he had no time to care for him, remaining dedicated to the training front. The logistical support was also a crucial factor in the excellent performance of Guangdong's teams. The team doctor for the men's five-a-side A group came from Shenzhen Nanling Iron Wolves, serving the top teams in the Five-a-side Super League. During the competition, the schedule was extremely tight, and the doctor worked until 1 AM every day to ensure the players could compete at their best. GSU's Sports Rehabilitation Center also provided vital support for the men's veterans seven-a-side group, sending four students majoring in sports rehabilitation to provide daily recovery massages for the players. Zhang Zhi, who is also a player in the veterans group, expressed deep gratitude for the center's assistance: "Our players are mainly aged 46 to 60, and playing a match might take two days to recover; recovery massages are crucial."

In football matches, luck often plays an important role. In the semifinals of the men's five-a-side veterans group held in Meizhou, the match against Hubei left a deep impression on Zhang Zhi. "Before facing us, Hubei's Li Xin and another key player were injured. In the second half, they had a penalty opportunity but failed to convert. If they had scored first, the situation might have been entirely different." After Hubei missed the penalty, Guangdong's throw-in hit a Hubei player and deflected into the goal. After unexpectedly taking the lead, the dynamics of the match changed.

"Winning this championship is significant for all parties involved. For football workers across the province, it serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement, successfully fulfilling the provincial goals and validating the deep historical foundation, cultural heritage, and solid grassroots support of Guangdong football, proving the strength of Southern football." For GSU, the victory aids in the continued development of high-quality, high-level internship training bases, enhancing school-enterprise cooperation, building high-level professional teams, and improving talent cultivation quality. Moving forward, GSU plans to convert the Asian Games venue into a five-a-side football facility and collaborate with Shenzhen Nanling Iron Wolves Club to establish a five-a-side professional league team, aiming to win the championship within three years and provide students with more high-level competitive opportunities. Zhu Guilin holds unique views on the talent cultivation system of the Football Academy, stating, "What better training is there than entering professional competitions! We place great importance on school-enterprise cooperation, jointly building high-level professional teams to allow our students to intern and train at this level."

Zhu Guilin

Additionally, Fan Zhirui, head coach of the men's seven-a-side A group of Guangdong at the 15th National Games, is also an alumnus of GSU. All four gold medals in the grassroots football competitions at this National Games involved GSU's contributions, fully demonstrating the school’s strong foundation and capabilities in the football field. The achievements are inextricably linked to the support from higher authorities, particularly the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, and the Guangdong Provincial Football Association. GSU's Football Academy will continue to align its talent cultivation structure with the four layers of football professional talent development: "志行风格" for soul forging, "南派技术" for foundational strengthening, "学练赛一体" for quality enhancement, and "湾区融合" for expansion. This will create a multi-layered, three-dimensional talent training system for Southern Guangdong football, aiming to contribute to the "new era long march" of Chinese football.