Sports promote harmony

Li Quan, 41, principal of Zhalong Central School in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province

Boys have sporting dreams in their bones, and competitive sports are suitable for them, especially the wilder ones. I wanted to use sports to attract truants and keep them in school.

I chose soccer because it isn't restricted by a field. Before moving into a new campus in 2017, our teachers didn't even have real classrooms, let alone sports facilities.

We moved four times before 2017 because the original building was deemed unsafe for habitation in 2009. The students had classes in temporary rented places, including village libraries, bungalows and even a chicken coop where the excrement had been cleaned away.

On the pitch, my students were shorter than the other teams' players, who were at the upper age limit for the matches. My team was made up of kids from different grades due to the limited number of students at our school.

Until 2014, when we won a provincial championship, few people recognized our efforts. Before that, people doubted that I did my duty properly and didn't understand why I took my students to play soccer every day.

Soccer makes children disciplined. They need to improve themselves for higher goals. They can't have bad habits such as smoking, which affects lung capacity and physical ability.

Student players understand how to cooperate when they step into society, because team spirit and unity are important for the sport. They are tough because they have grown (mentally) stronger after failures in competitions.

There are four coaches at my school, but I am the only one who has ever really played the game before. We learn from teaching videos online. The children are talented, and the older students teach the younger ones.

We're not good at playing soccer, but the most important thing is to put each child in the most suitable position so the team can form a powerful force, just like twisting strands into a strong rope.

In 2017, we moved to a new campus about 3 kilometers from the old one. There is a standard-size soccer field and an indoor gym, as well as a trophy room.

I also transplanted a tree from the old campus. Many years ago during cleanup efforts, we kept it, and it blossomed unexpectedly the following year. I feel secure when I see it.

Life was so bitter before, but everyone has practiced so hard to change their fate.

Li Quan spoke with Zhang Yi.