An ordinary afternoon in early 2022, a silent eight-a-side soccer field on the south bank of the Tonghui River in Beijing's Chaoyang District.
On the field, four figures on the empty court in the "grab circle game", passing, shooting and other skills practice, movement skillful, obviously a planned training class.
The man in charge of training, Bao Seo-nam, a 26-year-old with no professional playing background, studied sports science at Chungnam University in South Korea and earned a KFA Level D coaching certificate.
Bao Ruinan introduced the two players on the field, one is a former Central League player and the other is a member of the Chinese Super League U19 ladder team.
Bao Ruinan founded a controversial civic organization, the "China Unemployed Players Shelter", which aims to provide a training platform for players without official games.
The organization currently has 15 players on board, most of whom came here seeking self-improvement after their clubs went unpaid and disbanded.
It's a civic organization where no money is traded, and players band together to face adversity.
Bao Ruinan worked part-time as a fitness instructor at a gym, and even went unpaid during the outbreak.
After returning to Beijing, he decided to go it alone, providing the players with a training ground but requiring them to take care of their own food and accommodation.
Bao Ruinan launched a recruiting drive on Weibo in the hope that more players would join, but not many were actually willing to do so.
He cited the example of the Evergrande soccer funding crisis when a number of young players had consulted him but were concerned about food and lodging.
Boreanan wanted to find a stable tournament where the team could play every week, but the epidemic caused the amateur league to be suspended.
With the high turnover of players, Boreanan needs to keep looking for new players to keep the team stable.
Money is also a challenge, as Bowrinan has borrowed money from players over tuition fees and has raised money for the treatment of injured players.
Faced with the prospect of a distant future and the cost of living in Beijing, some of the players have become disillusioned.
Boreanan hopes to find a lower division club in the future to continue his soccer dream.
"As long as there are players who are willing to come and follow the practice, then I will definitely do my best to bring it." Bao Ruinan said firmly.
