Centennial School Cup | Kunming No.1 High School: Integrating Sports and Education, Upholding a Century-Old Motto

Zuo Rui reports from Qingdao On July 31, the third Centennial School Cup (High School Division) began in Qingdao. Kunming No.1 High School, which was founded 121 years ago, marked the 110th anniversary of its school football team and shared three years of sports-education integration, communication, and growth with this distinctive brand tournament.

Although the team lost its opening match to Qingdao Experimental High School, Zhao Yushu, player number 8 and a native of Yunnan, still felt proud to enjoy this unique summer "benefit" exclusive to Kunming No.1 High School. "I am fortunate to have joined this traditional school football team with a long history and to have participated in two consecutive Centennial School Cups. I have undergone a baptism of heritage that comes once every 365 days," he said.

Like Zhao Yushu, many students at Kunming No.1 High School have consistently prioritized both academics and football. Last year, he entered this top high school in Yunnan Province with a score of 683 out of 700 on the high school entrance exam. He believes that studying and playing football are not an either-or choice but complement each other. "When I'm tired of studying, football helps me relax; after football training, the knowledge from textbooks and problem-solving ideas from the classroom inspire me anew," he said.

From 5 to 7 every evening, the school team holds its fixed training sessions. Zhao Yushu's method of balancing study and football is to make full use of classroom efficiency during the day, fully understanding everything the teacher explains in class, and then digesting the knowledge in fragmented time after class. "Learning must progress steadily day by day. Once gaps accumulate, it becomes extremely difficult to fill them," he explained.

As a representative team from a century-old prestigious school, competing against teams from different provinces in the Centennial School Cup without the pressure of rankings is a valuable experience for Kunming No.1 High School's team. "We can take this opportunity to exchange and learn from other campus teams while also carrying forward our school motto of 'Sincerity, Respect, Diligence, Simplicity, Public Spirit, Courage, Strictness, and Perseverance,' showcasing this spirit on the field," said the team.

As the team that traveled the farthest and experienced the greatest climate difference in this tournament, head coach Zhao Jian gave a motivational talk to the team before departure. "Our biggest challenge is the test of fighting spirit and willpower," he said. Although the result of the first match was not ideal, the whole team had already achieved its goal. "I want to thank the Football Newspaper for building this excellent competitive platform. It allows for inter-school cultural exchange and enables national prestigious schools to compete in football, which is a very valuable opportunity," added Zhao Jian.

After the draw, Kunming No.1 High School was placed in the same group as schools from Qingdao, Beijing, and Jinan. Zhao Jian's requirement was to give their all. "No matter how strong the opponent is, we must not be afraid," he said. Since this high school lacks a junior high feeder team, each batch of players differs in physical condition and mental maturity. He needs to tailor training plans to each player's characteristics to maximize their individual strengths. "Our training goal, guided by the school motto of Kunming No.1 High School, is to cultivate football-playing teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers... and supply talent with football literacy to various industries," he explained.

As in previous years, after sending a group of veteran players to universities, the team has brought in more than a dozen new students who just graduated from junior high. During the games, whether the match is tight or the team is trailing, Zhao Jian encourages the players to attack boldly and showcase themselves. "Daily training can be very strict, but on the field, criticism and blame serve no positive purpose. In the next two group matches, no matter how difficult the situation, I will give the players plenty of opportunities to gain experience," he said.