Fujian league attracts cross-Strait players

At Saturday night's match, Fuzhou defeated Longyan 3-1 at the Fuzhou Strait Olympic Sports Center. Ni repeatedly tore through the opponent's defense, while his teammate Huang Wei-chieh, also from Taiwan, scored the opening goal.

"Hearing fans shout my name during the match felt incredible, an experience I've never had before," Ni said, adding that he could feel the energy from the nearly 50,000 spectators who filled the stadium.

Ni said he enjoys living, dining and training together with his teammates in Fuzhou. They visit local scenic spots and watch movies on weekends, inspiring him to stay and continue his soccer career on the mainland.

Another Taiwan compatriot, Yang Chih-po, joined the Pingtan soccer club in June through a coach he met during previous matches in Fujian.

On June 27, he made his debut in Pingtan's away match against Nanping. In the 65th minute, Yang scored the winning goal from a set piece. This marked his very first goal since joining the league, helping Pingtan secure a crucial 1-0 victory and snapping their previous seven-game losing streak.

Recalling his debut, although Yang felt nervous due to the massive crowds both in the stadium and online, he remained focused. "With such a great opportunity, I told myself to just enjoy this stage and perform well," he said.

"There are many young soccer players on both sides, and the sports environment and atmosphere on the mainland are excellent," Yang added, encouraging more Taiwan players to hone their skills and embrace the challenges on the mainland platform.

By reserving dedicated viewing areas and distributing free tickets, the league warmly welcomes both first-time and frequent visitors from Taiwan. It has also established a short-video collection event to encourage soccer fans from both sides to cheer together.

Chen Yu-hsuan, a Taiwan student at Xiamen Information School, performs as a cheerleader for Xiamen's club. Her squad wears white uniforms representing Xiamen's symbolic egrets, and ocean-blue ones representing the sea, beautifully capturing the coastal city's unique local character.

"When our team scores, the whole stadium erupts, and I stand up cheering with everyone in pure excitement," Chen said.

As a Taiwan student residing in Xiamen, Chen said that representing the city before crowds of both local and visiting fans makes her feel incredibly proud of her life and community on the mainland.

Rita Chen and her husband Joe Peng traveled from Taoyuan, Taiwan, to Xiamen over the weekend specifically to cheer for their son, who played for Xiamen on Saturday night against Putian. Prompted by the soccer matches, the trip marked the family's very first visit to the mainland.