Guangzhou Hosts Football Tournament With Former Chinese Professional Players

A football tournament in Guangzhou, China kicked off on Sunday, "featuring former stars of China's top professional league in the '90s," then known as the Jia-A league, according to Qiu Quanlin of the CHINA DAILY. The tournament, sponsored by Guangdong Apollo Group, "attracted more than 6,000" football fans to Yuexiushan Stadium. Former Chinese national team coach Gao Hongbao said, "I don't care about the result. The most important thing is that we, as old soccer players, have come here and to play in a tournament that will help promote a better soccer environment." Tournament organizer Peng Weiguo said that the event will be held annually "beginning next year." Peng said, "By organizing such a tournament we believe that more young people will start playing soccer. Chinese soccer will have a bright future only when a growing number of children get involved in soccer in the near future" (CHINA DAILY, 11/26).