The latest disclosure on the official website of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) is that Masahiro Kashiyama, a key member of the AFC Grassroots and Youth Football Department, together with experts Andres and Masao Nakayama, led a delegation to conduct a field visit to the development of grassroots soccer in China from April 19th to 22nd. During the trip, they had in-depth exchanges with the President of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), Song Kai, Vice President and Secretary General Yuan Yongqing, and Vice President Xu Kiren.
The delegation listened to a detailed introduction of the current situation and future planning of grassroots soccer in China by the Social Soccer Department of the FA, and went to Tianjin to observe the matches of the Amateur Soccer Super League and the China Youth Soccer League (Tianjin Region) in various age groups. In addition, they participated in training activities for coaches and referees, and listened to the report of the Tianjin Football Association on the development of grassroots soccer, which was reported by Secretary General Chong Yong himself and accompanied by the delegation.
The delegation visited Beijing to observe the training of Beijing U11 girls' soccer team and first aid skills training for coaches, and exchanged views with Liu Jun, President of Beijing Football Association, and Wu Shuo, Deputy Secretary General. They then traveled to the Love Kick Youth Football Club (Guomao Campus) to watch youth training and matches. As night fell, inside the Workers' Stadium, the AFC delegation witnessed the Chinese Super League match between Beijing Guoan and Qingdao West Coast, and were impressed by the grassroots soccer promotion and midfield youth soccer activities during the match.
In addition, the delegation also visited the China Disabled Persons Sports Management Center to attend the opening ceremony of the 8th Disabled Persons Folk Football Competition and gained a deeper understanding of the participation of special groups in the field of soccer in China.
At the end of the study tour, the AFC delegation held a wrap-up exchange meeting with the CFA on the afternoon of April 22 to comprehensively review the four-day study tour. The delegation spoke highly of the efforts and achievements of the CFA and its partners in the field of grassroots soccer, and recognized the strong support of the Chinese government in soccer work, the good operation of the association system, the professional grassroots soccer organizers, and the high-level coach and referee training. At the same time, suggestions were made to the CFA on issues such as elite selection and retention, pitch safety and registration numbers.
Masahiro Kashiyama summed up by saying, "Seeing so many Chinese youths smiling on the green field, I firmly believe that Chinese soccer will rise rapidly!"
The purpose of the visit is to assess the CFA's application for gold-level membership of the AFC Grassroots Football Charter, and the AFC expects to complete the assessment in May. Currently, the CFA is already a silver-level member of the Charter.
