A soccer team of a rural primary school

Editor's note:Qingliang Primary School, established in 1949, is located in the northwestern part of Guzhen County in Bengbu City, Anhui Province. Sixty-seven years after its establishment, the school has organized its first soccer team with a professional coach, training and facilities.

Most of the students in Qingliang Primary School are left-behind children from more than 10 neighboring villages. Many children said they used to be longing to play soccer and had only watched soccer games on TV. They did not realize that they could wear formal soccer jerseys and receive training similar to what famous soccer players do. The children are surprised and feel very happy. In addition to offering soccer courses, the school offers make-up lessons for players on the soccer team. Local governments and education departments plan to offer soccer courses to all primary schools in the region within three to five years.

Coach Wang Kun is a college graduate who majored in sports. He lives in a town not far from the school. He once had a chance to work in the big cities as a fitness trainer with a high salary. However,he decided to pass the exam and return to his hometown to work in a rural primary school. As a rural student who passed the national college entrance exam, he wants to help more rural students receive professional sports education and training.

With the team, students receive professional training which includes not only skills, but also protocol. They have 30-minute training after school every day. At the end of this month, they will play league games with students from neighboring primary schools to test their level, said Wang.

The first soccer team of Qingliang Primary School [ Photo by Li Bin/China.org.cn]