Football legends Baggio, Carlos ignite fervor as China's Village Super League resumes

Football legends Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos attended the gratitude-themed restart ceremony of China's Village Super League last Saturday evening, causing a stir on the site of the competition.

GUIYANG, July 28 (Xinhua) -- International football legends Roberto Baggio and Roberto Carlos appeared at China's Village Super League, also known as Cun Chao, last Saturday evening, drawing strong interest from spectators.

"Although China is half a world away from Europe, I can feel the same passion for football here," Baggio said during the event, where he and Carlos made an appearance at halftime.

Cun Chao held a gratitude-themed restart ceremony in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, marking its return after devastating floods submerged the stadium and much of the county earlier this summer. The event attracted tens of thousands of attendees.

Three friendly matches were played featuring local participants, including chefs, police officers and others who had taken part in flood relief efforts. With broad community support, Rongjiang resumed activity within a month, and Cun Chao resumed its matches.

To mark the reopening, the "Cun Chao - World Football Stars Guizhou Tour" was launched the same day, with Baggio and Carlos attending the first event.

Carlos traveled from Madrid to Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, last Friday. He was welcomed with bamboo dance performances and Dong ethnic songs at the city's Colorful Guizhou Cultural Plaza. Fans gathered to greet him as he arrived.

"I took part in some local activities and enjoyed a unique dinner. I felt the warmth and passion of the people here, both for me personally and for football," he said.

Carlos also commented on his iconic free-kick he scored 28 years ago that remains popular among Chinese fans. "If everyone wants to learn, I'd be happy to do it again," he said.

He Yufeng, a 37-year-old police officer from Chongqing, traveled to Rongjiang with his family to attend the event. Dressed in a Brazilian national team jersey, He said he plays football every weekend and welcomed the chance to return. "The atmosphere here is great. I'll come back to play with my team if I get the chance," he said.

"The most important thing is whether you're an amateur or a professional, you must enjoy the happiness that football brings," Baggio said in an interview with Xinhua. "Football is a sport of passion. Just like everyone else, we started as amateurs. To improve, you must constantly challenge yourself and push your limits, step by step."

When asked for advice to young players, Baggio added, "If you want rewards on the field, you must put in the effort during training. Most importantly, I hope children find joy in football because happiness is the driving force that keeps you moving forward."

To support Rongjiang's post-flood recovery, the tour's organizing committee launched a fundraising campaign to help rebuild school football fields in the area. Baggio, Carlos, and Chinese footballer Xie Hui contributed funds to Guzhou Town Central School for reconstruction efforts.

According to the organizing committee, Guizhou will host a series of events from August to October, including a football carnival, appearances by international players, and exchanges between global players and Cun Chao teams. ■