Veteran soccer commentator Yu Jing pointed out in her report that on October 22, the 2023 China B League ended successfully, and newly promoted professional league Yunnan Yukun Football Club ended with five consecutive victories, winning the third place in this year's B League. For Yukon, which was founded only three years ago, this is undoubtedly a brilliant achievement.
What is particularly commendable is that for the passionate Yunnan fans, they have witnessed their hometown team's brand new chapter in the professional league map. Today's Yukun is not only a spark, but also a prairie fire that will ignite unlimited hope for the future of soccer in Yunnan.
Yukun who revived the flag of Yunnan soccer
Yunnan soccer occupies a pivotal position in the history of Chinese soccer. It has nurtured countless important events of Chinese soccer. Ridge Base, Hongta Base, Kunming Tuodong Stadium and other places all carry the deep memory of Chinese and Yunnan soccer.
Unfortunately, in recent years, Yunnan soccer has gradually faded out of the Chinese professional game. It wasn't until 2023 that Yunnan Yukun FC came out of nowhere to fill the void. Yukun, in its debut in the professional league, finished third in the second division. Despite being just one step away from the first division, as head coach Li Jin Yu said after the season, "We went all out and waited for a miracle to happen. Although the result was not satisfactory, we firmly believe that the future is promising."
Yukun, the future is bright
Two years ago, Yunnan Yukun Iron & Steel Football Club was officially established, sponsored by Yunnan Yuxi Yukun Iron & Steel Group Co. Starting out in the Champions League, Yukun's goal is to return Yunnan soccer to the professional leagues. 2022 saw the team enter the Second Division as a Champions League player, officially starting a new journey.
Chang Lin, Chairman of Yunnan Football Association, spoke highly of Yukon Club's development in recent years: "Yukon Club has a new look and carries the great responsibility of Yunnan soccer development and has become a bright business card of Yunnan soccer. In the future, I hope Yukun can meet the expectations of Yunnan fans and open a new chapter of development."
Yukon FC, in its bid to win the Champions League, has shown the industry its determination and ambition in club building and team squad construction. Numerous Chinese Super League and Chinese First Division players have come to the club to revitalize Yunnan soccer.
Cai Xianping, Chairman of Yunnan Yuxi Yukun Iron & Steel Group Co., Ltd. said about the experience of the first professional league, "The first year of the professional league has been very rewarding for us. We have a preliminary understanding of the operation mode of professional soccer, and through the season, we have accumulated valuable experience in team and club construction, and home atmosphere creation. Although we regret not being promoted directly to the First Division, we are confident that we will be able to achieve our goal in the future."
Although the professional league is still in its infancy, Yukun has already won the attention of fans across the country with its media coverage and live matches. With attendance as high as 10,000 per game, the Yunnan division has become the most popular division in China's second division.
This season, Yukun's home tickets were in short supply. Not only did Yuxi fans gather together, but also fans from Kunming, Qujing and Honghe came to watch the game. At home, fans in orange jerseys turned the Yuxi Sports Center into a sea of joy. Similarly, on the road, fans in orange jerseys fought alongside the team.
It is worth mentioning that China B's matches attracted Yunnan fans, while during the inter-league break, Yukun's instructional match against China A's Shijiazhuang Kung Fu at the Hongta base in Kunming was watched live by hundreds of fans on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival and streamed live via social media platforms. It's safe to say that Yukun has a national reputation.
