England legend Michael Owen to visit China's 'Village Super League'

GUIYANG - England legend Michael Owen will visit China's grassroots football league, the Village Super League, known as "Cun Chao," in Rongjiang county, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on June 24, local organizers announced on Sunday.

It will mark Owen's first in-person trip to the grassroot football phenomenon three years after he sent his best wishes in a video message to "Cun Chao".

He will also visit a primary school in Rongjiang to meet young players before donning a "Cun Chao" jersey and taking part in a friendly match with local players later that evening.

"I'm looking forward to the match," said Wang Xiangbing, a local player from the Zhongcheng Village team.

Wang Yonggui, deputy director of the "Cun Chao" office, said Owen is the latest international star to come to the league, following other football greats such as Kaka, Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Baggio, and Roberto Carlos.

Visits from international stars give a further boost to "Cun Chao" which has already become a powerful engine for Rongjiang's economy and society.

According to statistics, from May 2023 to May 2026, the league has helped attract more than 28.9 million tourist visits to the county, generating total tourism revenue of about 32.6 billion yuan ($4.5 billion).