China's Village Super League, also known as Cun Chao, resumed in Rongjiang County, Guizhou province, on Saturday after a month-long suspension caused by catastrophic flooding, marking a significant step in local recovery efforts.
The reopening event, themed "Gratitude and Resilience: Guizhou's Super Power," featured football matches and a reconstruction appreciation ceremony. It follows devastating floods that struck Rongjiang - the birthplace of the grassroots football phenomenon - on June 24 and 28.
The event commenced at 14:00 local time and featured four matches. During the event, there were also charity performances. International football legends Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos made evening appearances, energizing the crowd.
Post-match activities saw a "Gratitude Parade" with local residents alongside national rescue and reconstruction teams. This preceded a special appreciation ceremony acknowledging support received during the disaster.
Rongjiang has not forgotten its heroes, inviting them back to the "Cun Chao" field to honor their return with a parade.
"Since we knew the village football tournament was very popular and hadn't visited before, we felt truly touched when we received the invitation. So, all of us rescuers decided to come. After a month, the changes in Rongjiang are astonishing. The environment has improved significantly; when we first arrived, the entire county was covered in mud. Today, it's clear how much better things have become," said Deng Guoqiang, rescue captain from Chongqing.
The football pitch has been expanded, with new seats added and cooling facilities installed. The game's rapid revival has attracted well-known figures from the football world.
"This shows the sense of unity that shines through on the faces of every villager. They've recovered from the disaster and returned to the football they love," said Xie Hui, former player of the Chinese National Football Team.
The Village Super League also attracts many special guests outside the football world, such as Miao Jie, a renowned singer who has been helping Rongjiang's farmers promote their agricultural products since 2021. He was titled "Honorary Village Chief" for his contributions.
"Many young people from Rongjiang who left have returned to their hometown. Even now, when I perform or attend events outside, people often shout to me, 'Village Chief, I'm from Rongjiang too!' I truly sense their pride in being from Rongjiang. Unlike before, when they worked outside and might have been reluctant to mention they were from a relatively poor area or a minority group with different customs, now every Rongjiang native who goes out feels extra pride in our local culture, songs, and village football events," said Miao.
The story of "Cun Chao" is a celebration of unity, friendship, and the simple love for football and life. It is more than just a game.
Iconic Guizhou village football tournament kicks off after floods
