Mountain coach gives wings to soccer dreams

A bigger pitch

The dirt pitch Jifu's father once built has since been transformed.

With support from Chinese electronics manufacturer Hisense, artificial turf now covers the field, allowing year-round training. The local women's federation, charities and volunteers have donated footballs, uniforms, shin guards and water bottles.

The transformation of Jifu's pitch mirrors broader changes taking place across Liangshan. While Jifu's generation relied largely on individual determination and family support, today's children are growing up within a more structured grassroots soccer system that links school programs, competitions, talent identification and educational opportunities.

The progress is visible. The first Liangshan Youth Football League, held in 2025, brought together 851 players from 50 teams representing 14 counties and county-level cities.

In 2026, Xichang Aerospace School from Liangshan won the primary school boys' title at Sichuan's sixth Gongga Cup Youth Campus Sports Super League.

Behind those achievements is sustained investment in youth soccer. Liangshan has become one of China's pilot regions for integrating sports and education, with 103 nationally designated campus soccer schools operating in 17 counties and county-level cities.

For grassroots coaches like Jifu, such policies matter most when they reach the village pitch in the form of better fields, more matches, trained coaches and clearer pathways for children to keep playing while continuing their education.

Jifu believes competition is just as important as training. This summer he plans to take his youngest players to Xichang for tournaments.

His players benefit from artificial pitches, school soccer classes, county and provincial competitions, experienced coaches and clearer pathways into higher education. "They're much luckier than I was," Jifu said. "Everything is moving in a better direction."

Challenges remain. Boots, equipment, travel and transportation all require funding. Jifu is considering selling local agricultural products, including buckwheat and walnuts, to generate income for the youth program.

His long-term ambition is to establish a soccer club serving villages across the region, complete with full-size pitches and accommodation for young players.

"It may be a distant dream," he said. "Right now, my priority is helping more children reach better schools through soccer and discover their potential."

Contact the writers at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn