Soccer young guns take 'wild route' to glory road

Behind the backflip

Xinyi's acrobatic celebration was not accidental.

Before focusing on soccer, he spent more than a year training in martial arts while in kindergarten, developing flexibility and explosive strength. He later discovered soccer in primary school and quickly showed aptitude for the game.

By the time he joined his school team in Nanjing Gulou No 1 Central Primary School, soccer had already become part of his daily rhythm. He would finish homework during breaks so he could train after school.

Asked what soccer means to him, Xinyi's answer is straightforward."Happiness," he said. "Because soccer allows me to express myself and push myself fully. Even when we are behind, I always believe we can come back."

His ambition is equally clear. "I want to become a professional player and contribute to Chinese soccer in the future."

Connecting players like Xinyi across China is a widely discussed and sometimes controversial figure in Chinese soccer development circles — the former journalist and commentator Dong Lu, and his grassroots initiative known as the "Chinese Football Boy" program.

In a recent online dialogue with veteran broadcaster Shui Junyi, Dong described his approach candidly as belonging to the "wild route"-a term often used to distinguish informal grassroots development from institutional systems.

He argues that talent is not "manufactured" in a traditional sense. "What matters is not who trains you, but who discovers you, guides you, and gives you a platform," he said. "Talent is revealed, not manufactured."

In 2017, Dong became involved in youth soccer development full-time. Since then, he has organized youngsters from across China to attend weekend and holiday training camps, and frequently taken them to international competitions.

Dong said total investment in the project has exceeded 58 million yuan ($8.58 million) over nine years, with free training provided to participating children.

Xinyi's father, Meng Qinghua, said the opportunity given to his son had transformed the boy's life.

"Without Dong Lu, there would be no Meng Xinyi today," he said. "He gave the child the chance to play internationally, and he never charged a fee."

Dong's philosophy places strong emphasis on exposure to competition. Unlike traditional youth systems that often prioritize training over results, he argues that Chinese soccer suffers from what he calls a "habitual acceptance of losing".

"In Chinese soccer, the real scarcity is hope," he said. "If we do not win, there is no attention, no momentum. But victory is essential because it creates belief."