Season 3 of the Century-Old Elite Schools Cup: Youths Step onto the Field, Growth Finds Its Own Answers

By Zuo Rui On the football pitches of Qingdao, the third Century-Old Elite Schools Cup has drawn to a close. Youngsters from near and far unite through soccer, and the ball at their feet embodies diverse paths of youth: some strive for national youth teams and professional stages, while others juggle schoolwork and their love for the game. This tournament is more than a contest of goals and victories; it carries the unique educational warmth of school football, witnessing young people grow through running and striving.

High School Division of the Third Century-Old Elite Schools Cup Concludes: Lai Xi's Chasing Wind Youths Keep the Trophy in Qingdao

15-year-old Chang Zengyanhong was undoubtedly one of the standout players of this tournament. By the end of the event, he clinched the Golden Boot with 10 goals. This young talent, fresh out of junior high, showcased exceptional individual skill and a strong sense of the game in the high school division.

Over the past year, Chang Zengyanhong has frequently been called up to the U16 national youth team for training camps at home and abroad, and has represented Chongqing in various competitions across the country. His school team coach, Li Kui, rarely sees his No.10 player. "He only returned to school a month before the holidays to catch up on his cultural courses, and he did well in the high school entrance exam, making it into our school's senior high division," Li said. Fengming Middle School has been a regular in the top 32 of the China Youth Football League, with about 75% of its high school football special students advancing to college. Chang Zengyanhong is the first international-level player from the school.

Li Kui believes that the experience of "Chasing the Bundesliga Dream" and higher-level training and matches have been key to Chang Zengyanhong's rapid development. What's more, after returning, "he still maintains the innocence of campus football and hasn't become arrogant." Beyond improved competitive skills, the most noticeable change is his enhanced thinking and decision-making abilities. "He asks more questions than before, and I like that kind of student," Li added.

Chang Zengyanhong's father, Chang Hui, started his career in Dalian's youth system, rose to fame with Yunnan Hongta, and retired at Chongqing Lifan. Chang Zengyanhong said his love for football is partly influenced by his family. He hopes to one day play like Rodri or Pogba, and dreams of joining a top European club like his idols.

However, his mother keeps a close eye on his studies, arranging tutoring every evening, while his father often laments that "not studying enough has cost him too much." As a result, Chang Zengyanhong realized early on that he must not neglect his cultural education while playing football. No matter how big his dreams, he must live in the present, reminding himself to "take every day seriously, treat every training session, match, and study period with sincerity."

After the summer break, Xie Keyuan from Chengdu Huaxi Middle School will enter his second year of high school. Compared to his classmates and teammates, this 16-year-old center-back has already signed his first professional contract and is drawing a salary from the Chengdu Rongcheng Club's Xilagu team. "This happened quite unexpectedly—I'm still a bit in shock," Xie said.

According to head coach Pu Weitong, this direct leap from campus football to professional football is "a breakthrough for Huaxi Middle School and the entire Southwest region." Thanks to a joint U17 youth team between the school and a Chinese Super League club, with complementary training and educational resources, Xie Keyuan became "the first school team player to take this path."

Pu Weitong emphasized that the school and club have agreed that Xie Keyuan will complete his remaining high school years at Huaxi. "After all, he's only stepped into the door of professional football; his career hasn't truly begun." Xie's parents fully support this arrangement, and Xie himself feels, "There's no need to burn all bridges just yet."

In the near future, Xie Keyuan may be required to live, eat, and train with his new club teammates at the base, and even play in the China League Two. This will inevitably upend the daily routine of a high school day student. "That's why I'm a bit dazed," he admitted.

This "dual-footing" state can be disorienting, but it also inspires hope among his Huaxi teammates. Pu Weitong believes that other students will think, "If my teammate can do it, so can I." Xie Keyuan agrees that his story is motivating: "As long as you give it your all, others can also seize such opportunities."

Similar deep collaborations between clubs and campus football are not uncommon in China. Guangzhou Bison, which may be promoted to the Chinese Super League next season, has a partnership with Guangzhou Peizheng Middle School, a participant in this year's Century-Old Elite Schools Cup. Under the agreement, the club sends coaches to the school for training, and when matches arise, they select a few students to strengthen the team and represent Guangzhou Bison. Peizheng's defensive midfielder, He Junjie, is one of the standout players.

17-year-old He Junjie not only excels in football but also maintains stable academic performance among his teammates. He is about to enter his final year of high school. He hopes to have an opportunity like Xie Keyuan's. "If both professional football and college are viable, I'd definitely choose football." But when he remembers that a senior teammate from last year, whose one-year contract with Guangzhou Bison expired, had to reapply for college football special recruitment exams, he feels that "going to college through the single recruitment exam is probably safer."

He Junjie started football training in Zhongshan in first grade, then moved to Guangzhou, which has better youth training conditions, after elementary school to pursue his dream. After three years of junior high at Zhenguang Middle School and two years of high school at Peizheng, he is no longer eligible for the 3+2 or 3+4 accelerated education paths. He believes his academic and football abilities are balanced, and thinks the single recruitment exam suits him better.

According to Shen Tong, head coach of the High School Affiliated to Peking University (PKU Affiliated High School), who has participated in all three editions of the Century-Old Elite Schools Cup, he lost almost an entire starting lineup before coming to Qingdao this time: besides Xie Jinchang, who has been training and competing with the U17 national youth team year-round, three others went to Spain, two joined Beijing Guoan, and three joined Zhejiang FC... Most of these players, by personal choice, have either given up or paused their high school studies to join club youth teams.

Fang Wenxiao, who scored a goal in the opening match, also dreams of playing professional football. He laments that "the No.10 jersey at PKU Affiliated High School carries a lot of responsibility and is hard to wear," but looks forward to his future: if he can get into Beijing Institute of Technology, he might have a chance to start in the lower leagues, "making the football dream I've had since childhood come true after all these years."

Fang Wenxiao feels that although it's tough to become a professional, it's equally tough to give up after playing for so long. So he thinks both football and academics should be balanced. "You don't have to become a professional to play football. It's a great hobby and a path to college."

Zhang Heran, a full-back from PKU Affiliated High School, took the athlete's oath on behalf of all players at the opening ceremony. He said he was a bit nervous but "also honored." During matches, PKU Affiliated High School players always help opponents who cramp up or fall, showing the warmth and kindness of football. They said politeness and sportsmanship are traditions of campus football. The school has its own traditional football tournament, where students manage the entire process and revise league rules—they are not just participants but also organizers. This rich role effectively improves players' organizational skills and overall quality.

Since the teams in the third Century-Old Elite Schools Cup come from all over the country—as close as Jinan, Shandong, and as far as Kunming, Yunnan—the tournament had to be held in a centralized format. However, the inter-school exchange nature of the event and the promotion by the organizers still spread the campus football culture of different regions more widely. Jinan No.1 Middle School, as a pioneer and beneficiary of the home-and-away system, has brought the concept of the "Most Beautiful Home Ground" to the attention of many prestigious schools and peers.

According to reports, Jinan campus football implements a midweek-weekend home-and-away match system, referred to as the "Most Beautiful Home Ground." The core idea is to allow more students to watch and participate in football games, showcasing several key functions of campus football: popularization (more student involvement), improvement (a real competitive atmosphere), and education (comprehensive display and exchange of holistic education including football).

In 2023, Jinan campus football underwent a comprehensive reform. The "Most Beautiful Home Ground" system was first implemented in the second-tier group and the "Quancheng Cup." All matches that could be held at school grounds were moved back to campus, truly returning the game to schools, standardizing campus tournament procedures, and establishing a home-school-community cooperation mechanism. The entire school cheers for their team, with civil play on the field and civil viewing off it. In the view of Yu Guangming, a veteran coach at Jinan No.1 Middle School, compared to the school's glory of winning the "Quancheng Cup" high school men's division championship in 2023, the home-and-away system of Jinan campus football has left a more lasting memory and greater value for dissemination.

Letting campus football truly return to schools, allowing more teachers and students to participate in football; making the journey more meaningful, the return more thought-provoking, and every trip and every match an opportunity for growth—this is not only the original intention of places like Jinan in implementing the home-and-away system but also the wish of *Football News* in founding the Century-Old Elite Schools Cup. Last Saturday evening, the "Korean Legend Lee Jang-soo Master Sharing Session" held at the Shangde Building lecture hall of Qingdao Early Childhood Education College, with interactive exchanges between Coach Lee and participating teams, is sure to become a precious memory for many.