U16 men s football team returns with reputation, gold medals will inspire Beijing football to continue to move forward

"Champion!" At the arrival hall of Daxing Airport yesterday afternoon, the young men of the Beijing U16 Men's Football Team were surrounded by the coaching team and proudly shouted out this honor - they won the championship of the Men's Football Team Under 16 (hereinafter referred to as the U16 Men's Football Team) of the 15th National Games on the evening of September 15, winning the first competitive sports gold medal in this National Games for the Beijing delegation.

In an interview with Beijing Daily client reporter at the airport, head coach Wang Changqing and his players said that this championship will inspire Beijing football to continue to move forward and strive for more honors.

Trust each other and won the championship. Just after noon yesterday, many parents of players and staff from the Municipal Sports Bureau and Municipal Football Association came to the arrival hall of Daxing International Airport to prepare to welcome the team to triumph. Together, they put on a garland for each team member and put out a banner saying "Warm congratulations to the Beijing U16 Men's Football Team for winning the 15th National Games Championship." On the afternoon of September 16, Beijing U16 returned to Beijing with a ferry and arrived at Daxing International Airport. Photo by Beijing Daily Client reporter Zhao Xiaosong

"It's really the first time I have felt such an honor, and I will always remember it." Beijing U16 men's football goalkeeper Cao Yu was very excited. He told reporters that when he won the championship, he felt the pride of winning the honor for Beijing. The 16-year-old player still remembers the various details of this gold medal battle. "I think the whole team is very confident. They have reached the finals, nothing scary, they are fighting! After the halftime break, we implemented the arrangements of Director Wang, and scored goals quickly in the second half, and the momentum was rising. After scoring consecutive goals, we won the game!"

As an authentic Beijinger, head coach Wang Changqing finally realized his dream of winning the National Games Championship this time. At the 2001 Ninth Games, he and his teammates who represented the Beijing team as a player were stopped in the quarterfinals. Wang Changqing He said: "This time we won the eight-point game and four-point game, which was the most exciting for me. We lost to the Liaoning team in eight-point game and four-point game. So it is quite a lot of pressure for me personally. If we break this layer of 'window paper', we will have the best result." The strong execution ability shown by the

players in this game moved Wang Changqing, "Everyone is really united and will do his best to execute the coach's arrangements. We are really playing better in the next game." He said that the players, coaches and players trust each other and worked together to win the final championship.

Gold medal proves the effect of youth training

Tang Bin, director of the Competition and Sports Department of Beijing Sports Bureau, said that the Beijing team has won two runner-ups in the National Games men's football competition. This time, the children of the young men's football team achieved a historic breakthrough for Beijing football and also a recognition of the city's football youth training work.

It is understood that the Beijing U16 team is mainly composed of "student army", and many of the team members are middle school students in the city. Tang Bin said: "This championship shows the achievements of Beijing's deep integration of sports and education in football. The entire process of preparation and participation in the competition is also inseparable from the great support of the children's parents and the Municipal Education Commission in our preparation process." At the award ceremony, the entire Beijing U16 Men's Football Team took a photo. Photo provided by Beijing Football Association

Beijing U16 men's football team is mainly composed of players born in 2009. The team was officially formed in October 2021. Since its founding, the team has set the goal of keeping pace with the international high level. They have traveled to Spain and Japan to compete with outstanding foreign clubs such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Yokohama Mariners, Tokyo FC, etc., broaden their horizons and hone their skills in high-intensity confrontation.

Just before the eve of this National Games, the Beijing U16 Men's Football Team also participated in the 10th Great Wall Cup International Youth Football Invitational held in Beijing in August, and held many high-intensity confrontations with players of the same age from top Eurasian clubs such as Real Madrid, Portugal Sports, Belgrade Red Star, Jeju SK, etc., allowing the players to see the gaps and shortcomings, hone their psychological qualities, and lay a solid foundation for this National Games.

Wang Changqing said that the team has received strong support from all parties in competitions, training and life, especially the parents of the children, and they also fully trust the coaching team and the Municipal Football Association. "They all believe that it is an honor to represent Beijing."

I want to compete for honors for Beijing in the future

"Our young men's football team won the first gold medal in the competitive sports event of this National Games for the Beijing delegation, which is of great significance to our entire delegation and has set a good start for our National Games journey." Tang Bin said that the outstanding performance of the small team members has greatly encouraged the entire Beijing delegation and inspired other teams that are determined to win the gold medal.

At the 10th Great Wall Cup International Youth Football Invitational in August this year, Beijing U16 team played against France's Auxerre Club U16 team. Photo provided by Beijing Football Association

As a former professional player, Wang Changqing hopes that this hard-won champion can further promote the development of Beijing football's youth training system and build a better and wider upward channel for Beijing football talents. He said: "In football, talent determines the lower limit of players, and scientific training and excellent kicking platform determine the upper limit. I hope that more children will participate in football in the future, so that football will have hope. Of course, this requires one step at a time."

Cao Yu told reporters that what Director Wang usually talks most is to let everyone play and enjoy the game, and the future belongs to them. As a member of Beijing Guoan echelon, Cao Yu told reporters that winning the National Games this time gave him more confidence in continuing his football path. Next, he hopes to perform well in the training and competitions of the Guoan echelon, and then strive to join the national youth team. When asked by our reporter whether he wanted to continue to compete for honor for Beijing, Cao Yu said firmly: "I definitely want to!"