Guangdong starts strong in the first leg of the Guangdong-Macao Cup, with the Evergrande Football School team set to challenge the professional league.

Reported by Wang Wei At 3 PM on February 7, the first leg of the 19th Guangdong-Macao Cup football match officially began at Xingzhong Stadium in Zhongshan City. Backed by more than 5,000 enthusiastic fans, Guangdong defeated Macao 2-0 with goals from Xia Ruizhi and Bunyanming. Most players representing Guangdong are from the 2008 cohort of the Evergrande Football School, and recently, the future of these 18-year-old talents has attracted public attention.

Seventeen players from Evergrande Football School’s 2008 team participated in this tournament; they were champions of the 2025 China Youth Elite Football League (U17 category). Among the squad, players like Bunyanming, Park Minjun, Wang Weixuan, and Zhang Congxi have been selected for various national youth teams. The head coach is Yang Changpeng, who has experience playing in professional leagues, and the team leader is Liu Zhiyu, former head coach of Guangzhou FC, well-known to the public.

In this match, Guangdong broke the deadlock in the 9th minute with number 29, Xia Ruizhi scoring first. At the 12th minute, number 26, Bunyanming, extended the lead with a penalty, making it 2-0. In the second half, Guangdong made substitutions, and at the 88th minute, local Zhongshan player Chen Zhiping entered the field to warm applause. After coming on, Chen created a scoring chance inside the penalty area, narrowly missing a goal. Both teams had attacks afterward but failed to change the scoreline, and the 2-0 result held until the final whistle.

After the game, Yang Changpeng spoke about the 2026 plan for the Evergrande Football School team to push into the professional arena: “This reflects the players’ aspiration and hope for professional football. This Guangdong-Macao Cup representing Guangdong is our last match before the 2026 Spring Festival. It marks a fresh start. I hope they approach every game as if it’s their last, play at a professional level, and hold themselves to professional standards. I wish them a successful professional career,” Yang said.

To provide effective match experience for players aged 18-20 transitioning from youth training to professional football, Evergrande Football School plans to use its wholly-owned football club to compete in the China Amateur Football League (Zhongguan League) aiming for promotion to China League Two, thereby connecting to higher professional platforms in the future. “We definitely aim to develop towards professional platforms. The kids will also participate in the three major ball sports competitions with many opportunities representing Guangdong football. Last year they played in the provincial super league, and they will again this year. We want these kids to play more matches, gain experience, and push towards professional levels,” Yang explained.

Regarding plans for the new year, Bunyanming, who performed exceptionally well in this match, expressed his hope to play in higher leagues like the Chinese Super League or China League One in the future. “I have played at Evergrande Football School for ten years and have strong feelings for the school. Of course, the Zhongguan League isn’t the level I aim for; I want to reach higher platforms. But if our whole team stays together, I might remain to push for promotion to China League Two,” Bunyanming said.

On the development of this Evergrande football team, Liu Zhiyu stated that plans must be made for the players’ upcoming matches: “I hope they can first build a solid foundation. The professional league might not be exactly what they imagine. While some may eventually play professionally, some players don’t fully understand the intensity and harshness of professional leagues. I hope they all can play professionally and join national teams in the future, but at this stage, laying a good foundation is most important.”

On the same night as this match, Xu Bin, also from Evergrande’s main school, will make his overseas debut representing the Premier League Wolves U21 team. The players and coaches are naturally proud of this. Xu Bin’s inspiring journey at the football school motivates these players. Yang Changpeng said, “Xu Bin, developed by Evergrande Football School, joining an English league team, sets a great example for his juniors. Many of our players have studied in Spain. Xu Bin is the best player domestically in this age group. I hope our players learn from his calm mindset and achieve better development in the future.”

Bunyanming said, “When I was 15, I trained with the first team. Xu Bin is our senior brother. His move to play in England is a role model for us, inspiring us to strive for higher levels.”

Liu Zhiyu said, “As one of the best performers in the U23 national team, I believe he should play in Europe. Xu Bin has always been diligent both at Evergrande Football School and Guangzhou FC. He is a role model for the players and young footballers learning the game.”

Notably, Guangdong’s team includes Chen Zhiping, a national first-class athlete from Zhongshan. Born in 2009, this young talent represented Guangdong’s U16 football team, achieving seventh place at the 2025 National Games, and has been selected for the national youth training camp. This time, he played for Guangdong on home ground.

In the first leg of the Guangdong-Macao Cup, Chen Zhiping’s appearance as a substitute local player was a highlight of the match. It is known that Chen’s football journey has been deeply influenced by his father, Chen Kemei, president of the Zhongshan Football Association and former player of the Leizhou Sports School football team, who has a strong passion for football. This passion has been passed on to Chen Zhiping. At age five, under his father’s guidance, Chen began playing football. In 2015, Chen Kemei founded a public welfare football club and hired professional coaches to provide systematic training for his son. Talent combined with hard work allowed Chen to stand out early: at nine, he joined Guangzhou R&F’s youth team, showcasing his skills as a midfielder; in 2017, he was awarded “Best Player” at the Rotterdam Sparta Cup in the Netherlands; in 2018, he was named the U9 Best Player at the 3rd Guangzhou Youth Football Challenge “Sun God Cup”; in March 2024, he was selected for the national youth training team; and at 15, he joined Meizhou Hakka’s youth team to prepare for the National Games.

In the eyes of his father Chen Kemei, his son “has excellent skills, thinks intelligently, and maintains a steady mindset.” During the first match of the U16 boys’ football final phase at the 15th National Games, Chen Zhiping scored Guangdong’s first goal in this tournament. Recently, Chen attracted attention from Shanghai Shenhua Football Club and is expected to join their youth team soon.