In the qualifying round of the F.A.C.A. Cup, QUJING Yibu was in the same group with Shanghai Shenshui, Qianxinan Lifengtang, Qingdao Zhongying Qinglian, Changchun Xidu, and Nanning Dongfang Juding. In the end, Qujing Yibu successfully advanced to the main round of the AFC Cup with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.
The FA Cup has made the whole city of Qujing a sensation.
As one of the participating teams in last season's FA Cup, Qujing Yibu had played a home match against Chinese B team Jiangxi Black Horse Youth in the first round of last year's FA Cup. That match was the first time that Qujing's local soccer team appeared in a high-level professional match organized by the CFA. Nearly 10,000 fans took to the stands of the Qujing Culture and Sports Park Stadium, igniting the passion for soccer in Qujing.
Qujing footballers considered that AFC Cup match a valuable opportunity. It's very beneficial to play with strong teams for exercise, and we hope to participate in more high-intensity matches in the future. Qujing Yibu team captain Li Forest said.
After the FA Cup draw results were announced, Qujing Step will face Xi'an E-League in the first round. Meanwhile, according to the rules of the competition, teams that advance through the FA Cup qualifying rounds are given priority for the right to host their home stadiums, which means that the FA Cup will come to Qujing, Yunnan again this year.
He said: "Last year's AFC Cup gave us a great touch and everyone saw the great charm and influence of soccer. This year the club has communicated with the soccer associations of Yunnan Province and Qujing City in advance, and if the FA Cup is held again, it will be even more exciting than last year. We plan to incorporate the cultural elements of Yunnan's ethnic minorities into the match to create a well-prepared match that will bring a whole new experience to the audience."
Located in the eastern part of Yunnan Province, Qujing hosted the Four-Nation Football Championship in 2018, when China's U21 men's soccer team played Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Myanmar. In addition, Qujing has hosted international invitational tournaments for China's women's soccer team and Italy's women's soccer team, and has rich experience in organizing tournaments.
Qujing has superior training facilities and competition venues, and we welcome teams from all over the world to come and exchange ideas and dedicate exciting soccer events to the local people." Leader Li Forest said.
Youth-based training as a platform for juniors and retired players
Qujing Yibu players fight for victory on the field. Off the field, this group of players return to the community as soccer coaches, training young players in the area. Currently, QUJING Yibu FC has more than 40 active coaches and more than 600 trainees spanning the age range of 6 to 15 years old. In addition, QUJING Yibu Football Club also cooperates with the Yunnan Provincial and QUJING Municipal Football Associations to create soccer ladders for different age groups, and is committed to cultivating soccer talents.
"While the club has the idea of developing professional soccer and we are always ready to play in the professional league, youth training has always been our foundation. The first team is the platform for us to showcase, and that platform needs to be replenished with a constant stream of fresh strength. Leader Lee Forest admits that progress in youth training has always been a priority in the club's development plans: "Youth training work cannot be rushed, it usually takes five to eight years to develop a group of newcomers, and time will validate everything after getting this work done."
The youth training will not only benefit the local youth in Qujing, but also provide a transition platform for some former professional players.
Assistant coach and team member Shen Zhuxing is currently in the transition stage from player to coach, Qujing Yibu Formation.At the age of 8, Shen Zhuxing began to contact soccer under the influence of Yunnan Hongta team. Since 2012, he has been playing for Kunming Rui Long, Gansu Aoxin, Pu'er Marriott and Yunnan Flying Tigers. He has participated in more than 100 professional league matches. The last stop in his playing career, Shen Zhixing played in the China B League with Kunming Zhenghe in 2021. Talking about that experience, he recalled, "At that time, we played against the Chinese U20 men's soccer team in the first round of the China B League. Although we lost in the end, I scored a goal in that game, which became an unforgettable moment in my career. In the same year, Shen Jiuxing had played against Qingdao Hainiu in the Central B League. That Qingdao team had won the Championship of the Second Division that year, and as a result, they were able to be promoted. Later, they were promoted to the Chinese Super League from the Central League in the 2022 season. In that year in the Central B, there were also encounters with international players such as Xiao Zhi and Jiang Ning, but I did see the gap."
Though he has now left the professional soccer field, Shen Xuxing has not stayed away from soccer. He is currently serving as both the assistant coach of the Qujing Yibu team and the assistant coach of the 09 age group boys' soccer team in Yunnan Province. "I've been playing for so many years and have more or less accumulated some experience, which I want to use to help more young players. I'm still getting used to being a youth coach, and I hope to keep the passion on the pitch in a different way with the rest of my teammates," Shen Juxing continued.""
