The 2025 Village Super League National, or "Cun Chao," Final was held on August 23 at the "Cun Chao" stadium in Rongjiang County, Guizhou. The Jinli Chengjun football team from Zhaoqing, Guangdong, secured the national championship with a 2-0 victory over the Guangdong Heping Chamber of Commerce team.
From the opening whistle, both teams quickly found their rhythm, frequently shifting between offense and defense. In first-half stoppage time, the Jinli team took a quick throw-in and surged into the penalty area. After their initial shot was parried, player Chen Youzhi cleverly pounced on the rebound to score. The second half remained scoreless until the 67th minute when a foul by their opponents awarded Jinli a penalty kick. Player Li Yihua calmly stepped up and drilled a low shot into the net.
The final whistle blew with the Jinli team winning 2-0, claiming the "Cun Chao" national title and emerging as the biggest dark horse of the tournament. Comprised mostly of hardware workers, this grassroots amateur team embodies Jinli's vibrant football culture. The sponsors and cheerleaders, all from Jinli's hardware enterprises, demonstrated the industry's solidarity in supporting sports development.
Today, Jinli Town in Gaoyao District, Zhaoqing, boasts 150 teams, over 3,000 registered players, 16 natural grass pitches, and three floodlit stadiums, fostering a thriving grassroots football scene. As the "Home of China's Hardware Industry," many residents involved in the hardware business also play football, making the sport a vital platform for industry exchange.
Author: Wang Junxin
Photo: Shi Liang
Editor: Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
