Fujian league attracts cross-Strait players

The Fujian city soccer league is inviting Taiwan players to compete on the Chinese mainland, and welcoming residents from across the Strait to enjoy the matches firsthand to deepen compatriot affinities and bring hearts closer together.

Representing Fujian province's nine cities and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, 10 teams and nearly 500 amateur players are competing in the tournament, which will conclude with the final in October.

To boost cross-Strait integration, Fujian — the primary ancestral home for Taiwan compatriots — allows every participating team to add two Taiwan players to its roster. By August, 19 Taiwan players had joined different city teams, according to the Fujian provincial administration of sport.

Data show that more than 1,500 people from Taiwan have attended matches across Fujian, and that the league serves as an active catalyst for deepening cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges.

Ni Pei-hsu, 24, from Taiwan, joined Fuzhou's soccer club in late June after learning about the recruitment online and was drawn by the massive crowds. It's his first time playing on the mainland.

At Saturday night's match, Fuzhou defeated Longyan 3-1 at the Fuzhou Strait Olympic Sports Center. Ni repeatedly tore through the opponent's defense, while his teammate Huang Wei-chieh, also from Taiwan, scored the opening goal.

"Hearing fans shout my name during the match felt incredible, an experience I've never had before," Ni said, adding that he could feel the energy from the nearly 50,000 spectators who filled the stadium.

Ni said he enjoys living, dining and training together with his teammates in Fuzhou. They visit local scenic spots and watch movies on weekends, inspiring him to stay and continue his soccer career on the mainland.

Another Taiwan compatriot, Yang Chih-po, joined the Pingtan soccer club in June through a coach he met during previous matches in Fujian.

On June 27, he made his debut in Pingtan's away match against Nanping. In the 65th minute, Yang scored the winning goal from a set piece. This marked his very first goal since joining the league, helping Pingtan secure a crucial 1-0 victory and snapping their previous seven-game losing streak.

Recalling his debut, although Yang felt nervous due to the massive crowds both in the stadium and online, he remained focused. "With such a great opportunity, I told myself to just enjoy this stage and perform well," he said.

"There are many young soccer players on both sides, and the sports environment and atmosphere on the mainland are excellent," Yang added, encouraging more Taiwan players to hone their skills and embrace the challenges on the mainland platform.

By reserving dedicated viewing areas and distributing free tickets, the league warmly welcomes both first-time and frequent visitors from Taiwan. It has also established a short-video collection event to encourage soccer fans from both sides to cheer together.

Chen Yu-hsuan, a Taiwan student at Xiamen Information School, performs as a cheerleader for Xiamen's club. Her squad wears white uniforms representing Xiamen's symbolic egrets, and ocean-blue ones representing the sea, beautifully capturing the coastal city's unique local character.

"When our team scores, the whole stadium erupts, and I stand up cheering with everyone in pure excitement," Chen said.

As a Taiwan student residing in Xiamen, Chen said that representing the city before crowds of both local and visiting fans makes her feel incredibly proud of her life and community on the mainland.

Rita Chen and her husband Joe Peng traveled from Taoyuan, Taiwan, to Xiamen over the weekend specifically to cheer for their son, who played for Xiamen on Saturday night against Putian. Prompted by the soccer matches, the trip marked the family's very first visit to the mainland.

In July, their son, Peng Chia-en, represented the team of Jinmen, an outlying island off the coast of Fujian, in an exchange match against Xiamen — a key sub-activity of the city league that drew many Taiwan spectators. After touring locally to boost cross-Strait understanding, Peng and another Taiwan player were officially invited to join the Xiamen squad, while another two joined the Nanping club.

"We discovered that so many people support soccer matches in Xiamen, which is rare in Taiwan," Chen said. "The atmosphere is incredible. I hope other Taiwan compatriots who are interested can come over, enjoy the soccer spirit, and grow."

Zhang Yuehong, assistant coach of the Xiamen team, said: "Taiwan players travel to Xiamen to play just like visiting relatives. There is a very harmonious atmosphere as soccer enthusiasts from both sides exchange ideas and build friendship."

The matches offer talented Taiwan players more opportunities to showcase their skills, Zhang said, adding that the league lays a foundation for the possibility of Taiwan soccer teams joining the tournament in the future, which is a highly anticipated wish for many Taiwan players.

"The league is like a seed planted in the hearts of sports-loving young people from Taiwan," said Lee Chenhsuan, a Taiwan player participating in the league.

Lee, president of the Pingtan Taiwan Business Association who moved to the mainland in 2016, said the event serves as a grand platform for people from Taiwan to experience diverse local customs and Fujian's unique culture.

"Many from Taiwan want to participate in the event," Lee said, noting that participants can also integrate into coaching staff and logistical support teams to gain broader experience in the sports industry.

Lee added that the event's influence is expected to extend to other provincial leagues in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces, inspiring more young Taiwan players to explore and develop careers across the mainland.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that grassroots city soccer leagues across the mainland have ignited the passion and energy of fans from both sides of the Strait every weekend this summer.

"In the Fujian league, Taiwan players fight alongside their mainland teammates, scoring multiple goals and receiving passionate support," Zhu said. "Facts prove that anyone with passion and perseverance can win applause on an expanding stage."