Chinese girl's soccer dream comes true

The only "teammate" that Zhao Luting, an 11-year-old student in a primary school in Northwest China's Gansu province, had during her soccer practice three years ago was a playful lamb.

There were no professional facilities or coaches in her hometown, a small town located in a mountainous region at an altitude of 2,300 meters, at that time. "Nobody could teach me how to play soccer, so I trained a lamb to play with me," she said. "I started by gently touching its head with a ball, and gradually it learned to head the ball back to me."

The young soccer lover never imagined that she would travel to Britain and receive training from professional coaches in three short years. In mid-August, Zhao and 40 other students, with the help of a Chinese non-governmental organization, visited Nottingham Forest Football Club, which competes in the English Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, and received professional training. "It still feels like a dream," she said.

Pursuing her soccer dream, Zhao is not alone anymore thanks to a series of supportive policies for soccer in primary and middle schools in the province. Since 2016, the provincial finance department has been investing 10 million yuan (1.41 million US dollars) in building training and league systems in schools every year. The education department is also exploring a new model of cultivating professional players from primary schools to universities.

The primary school of Zhonglianchuan where Zhao studies has sent more than 40 students to professional training organizations across the country, of whom 10 players started to receive professional training at top football clubs of Britain such as Arsenal and Leicester city.

"Our school has 65 students, and almost all of them can play soccer," said Ma Anwu, the principal of the school.

"Zhao was very introverted when she entered the school, barely talking to the teachers," said Jin Qiaoxia, deputy principal. "Soccer has helped her become more outgoing, especially after she received training in Britain."

"As teachers, we must value the dreams of every student," said Ma. "With more help from the government and society, I believe that the children's soccer dreams are coming true."