It was March 22nd, when a piece of news quietly fermented in the soccer circle. The Cangzhou Lions U19 youth team, after 17 days of hard training, was about to embark on a journey to Zhangzhou, Fujian on the 23rd of this month to participate in the first round of the 2024 National Youth Football League (Boys' U19 Division). The tournament brought together 39 elite teams, including the ladder teams of the Chinese Super League, Chinese First Division and various university soccer teams. Cangzhou Lions U19 team is in Group C, with Shenzhen U19, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger U19, Shijiazhuang Kungfu U19, Qingdao West Coast U19 and Jianghan University soccer team in the same group.
Looking back at the end of last year's season, the Cangzhou Lions U19 team delivered a host of players to the U21 ladder. This year's team has a brand new lineup, mainly composed of players in the 2006 and 2007 age groups. Head Coach Li Li Fei revealed: "The core task of the U19 team is to excavate and cultivate potential players through training and competition, so as to reserve talents for the U21 team and the first team. Given that the team has not been formed for a long time and the average age of the players is low, integration problems are inevitable. In this tournament, we have adopted the attitude of learning from our opponents and strive to improve the team's technical, tactical and physical qualities in the competition."
Facing the upcoming challenges, captain Yu Bo Han is full of confidence: "Under the guidance of Coach Li, the team has a new look. Despite the limited time for bonding, the team atmosphere is harmonious. We are looking forward to showing our best level in the competition and improving our team strength through actual battles."
The Cangzhou Lions U19 team had a remarkable performance last season and look forward to building on their success in the 2024 season, continuing the Lions' spirit, demonstrating resilience, raising the level of the game and shaping a unique style.
