Young footballers from China and Kenya gathered in Nairobi for a series of friendly matches aimed at strengthening friendship ties and mutual learning.
The young football team of Shanxi Zhidan, part of the under-11 age group, played its first match in Africa against the youth team of the NACHA club, which consists of players from various parts of Kenya aged eight to eleven.
The game, held at a local primary school, was very intense as both teams constantly pressured each other throughout the match. After the final whistle, the young athletes highly praised their opponents and reflected on the lessons learned on the field.
Cao Menhui from the Shanxi Zhidan U-11 football team noted: 'Their positioning, formation, long passes, and cutting through the defense were very impressive. Their skills are excellent. I can say they honed their abilities playing on dirt fields in Kenya. This match will help me improve.'
Victor Muinde Ngima from the NACHA club's youth team highly praised the Chinese team, stating: 'They kept giving their all even when tired. They are good; next time they could be great if they work hard.'
The next day, the Zhidan team returned to the pitch for a second match against another U-11 team from Nairobi, PSEA Umuja Football Club. This match was also very tense. The Zhidan team fell behind at halftime but managed to come back in the second half, equalizing the score and forcing a penalty shootout. Ultimately, the Kenyan side won the penalty shootout by one goal.
However, for the young Chinese players, the result was less important than the experience and determination shown on the field. Yang Lucy from the Shanxi Zhidan U-11 football team said: 'I gained a new understanding of my love for football. I learned that you have to give everything in a match and never give up. We kept fighting until the last minute. Although we lost, I gave everything I could, and I will try harder next time.'
These encounters also provided the children with an opportunity to communicate and build new friendships. After the games, the players exchanged gifts, talked, and laughed together.
Ren Zhigan, head coach of the Shanxi Zhidan U-11 team, commented that the Kenyan children possess high ball control skills and incredible determination. He added: 'We especially want to learn from their competitive spirit and positive attitude. We hope to bring this football culture back to Zhidan.'
The matches in Nairobi offered more than just a football competition, providing young players from China and Kenya the opportunity to get to know each other, study each other's skills, cultures, and sporting spirit. For the children, these matches will become memories that go beyond the final score, and the lessons of teamwork, inclusivity, respect, and perseverance will likely stay with them long after they leave the field.
