China News Service, Lhasa, October 27th. Title: Young people on the banks of the Lhasa River in Tibet compete in the “Village Super League” football stadium on the plateau.
China News Service reporter Jiang Feibo
On the evening of October 26, the semi-finals of the 2024 Lhasa “Village Super League” Football League were held at the football field beside the Lhasa River. The Nimu Township team of Nimu County, Lhasa City played against the Jiri Street team. The Nimu Township team had only been formed for a week. In terms of cooperation, the Jiri Street team was not as good as the Jiri Street team. In the first half, the Jiri Street team took the lead to break the deadlock and scored a goal. The Nimuxiang team fell behind temporarily.
On the evening of October 26, the semi-finals of the 2024 Lhasa “Village Super League” Football League kicked off. The picture shows the Nimu Township team (white jersey) of Nimu County playing against the Jiri Street team. Photo by China News Service reporter Jiang Feibo
Football has a broad foundation in Lhasa, a plateau city. This is also the first “Village Super League” football league held in Lhasa, attracting 18 teams from various counties (districts) to participate, with more than 270 participants.
Before the game, Nyima Tsering, the 34-year-old team leader of the Nyam Township team, said that the Jiri Street team is recognized as a strong team. Their plan is to tie the score and drag it into a penalty shootout, so that they have a chance to win. “In the last game we played against the Jiama Township team of Mozhugongka County, we also tied 2-2 and defeated our opponent 4-2 in the penalty shootout.”
This league is an 8-a-side football match, with two halves of 30 minutes each. Before entering the semifinals, the Nimuxiang team had won 5 games in a row. Nyima Tsering said that there are 13 people in the team, and the team members are composed of teachers, college students, migrant workers and policemen from Nimu.
Tsering Dondup, 36, is an office worker in Nyam County and plays as a forward. He said that he has liked playing football since he was a child and fell in love with football when he first came into contact with it in 1998. After graduating from college, he started working and insisted on playing two games a week.
“We played football on open fields when we were young. Now the infrastructure is very good. There are several football fields in Nyam County.” Tsering Dondup said that when the team was lagging behind in the last game, he scored a free kick. Help the team equalize the score and win.
“If you play football, you will understand that the joy of scoring a goal is unparalleled,” he said with a smile.
After the Jiri Street team scored in the first half, the Nimuxiang team was not in a hurry. Due to the shortage of personnel, the team leader Nyima Tsering also needs to serve as coach. He keeps walking around the sidelines to direct the players’ movements, defense, etc.
On October 26, the audience watched the semi-finals of the 2024 Lhasa “Village Super League” Football League. Photo by China News Service reporter Jiang Feibo
The game was quite intense, with both sides shooting threatening shots from time to time. The spectators on the sidelines were also driven by the tense atmosphere and cheered for the team from time to time. In the first half, the referee also showed a yellow card to each of the two players who had a conflict.
After the first half, the team leader Nyima Tsering called everyone to gather in a corner on the sidelines, asked everyone to rehydrate in time, and emphasized that the tactics on the field had not changed, and that in the second half they should strive to score goals to equalize the score.
22-year-old Mima Tsering is a defender from Karu Township, Nimu County, located on the bank of the Brahmaputra River. “I have an older brother who also plays football. When we were young, we played football in the harvested highland barley fields.”
Mima Tsering’s favorite star is Spanish player Sergio Ramos. “I like his style of being decisive on the field and kind off the field.”
After the start of the second half, the two sides exchanged offense and defense, but neither scored in the first twenty minutes. During the subsequent scramble, the Nimuxiang team seized the ball and advanced quickly. Player No. 12 Phuntsok Kezhu successfully scored a goal with a powerful shot. The two sides tied 1-1.
The 24-year-old forward Phuntsok Kezhu works in Nanmulin County, Shigatse City. This time he specially applied for leave to come back and represent his hometown.
Football has a broad foundation in Lhasa. The picture shows a group of children practicing shooting at the 2024 Lhasa “Village Super League” football league on the afternoon of October 26. Photo by China News Service reporter Jiang Feibo
The Jiri Street team has been together for a longer period of time, and has many players who usually play together, so they have a higher degree of tacit understanding in offense and defense. About 5 minutes after Phuntsok Kezhu scored, the Jiri Street team scored another goal to regain the score advantage and successfully fixed the score until the end of the game.
“Changes only happen in an instant, which is also the charm of competitive football.” After the game, Phuntsok Khezlu told the reporter of China News Service that they will adjust their rest tonight and prepare for the third place battle the next afternoon. (over)
