Source: Yangcheng Evening News-Yunshang Lingnan
Author: Zhao Peng
Publication time: 2024-11-16 21:03
On this November，The 2024 “Atushi Cup” Invitational Tournament across Xinjiang has elevated the fervor for football in Atushi to unparalleled heights.
Athletes and enthusiasts from throughout Xinjiang have convened in the vibrant city of Atushi, where they engage in intense competition on the field, captivating audiences with exhilarating matches that showcase their prowess.
But why has Xinjiang’s most prestigious football event been bestowed with the name of Atushi, a diminutive city nestled at the westmost edge of China?
Join us on a journey to unravel this intriguing mystery!
We venture to a village steeped in a century-old football heritage – Yikesake Village.
This locale is renowned as the cradle of one of China’s pioneering folk football team.
In 1927, the Yikesake Village football team achieved a monumental feat, defeating both British and Swedish teams with scores of 2-1 and 7-0, respectively.
Ever since, this triumphant encounter has ignited an enduring passion for football within the hearts of Atushi residents.
As the locals proclaim, “Football is as indispensable as sustenance.”
Today, football stands as an indelible component of Atushi’s urban culture.
Yikesake Primary School boasts four dedicated football teams. Here, boys and girls alike embrace the sport daily, nurturing their skills and fostering a deep appreciation for its values.
Inspired by the legacy of their forebears, these young athletes nurture their dreams amidst the lush playing fields. Each deft pass and precise strike reflects not only their dedication but also their profound connection to the game.
The school serves as a breeding ground for exceptional talent, continually rejuvenating Atushi’s football community and earning accolades along the way.
For the youth of this quaint border town, football is more than just a pastime; it offers a glimpse into a broader universe beyond their immediate horizons.
This is Atushi – a sanctuary for football enthusiasts and a beacon of hope for aspiring dreamers.
Source :Lingnan on the Cloud
[Video]Xinjiang Story丨In the western border of China, there is a football city!
The 2024 “Atush Cup” Xinjiang Invitational Tournament is being held fiercely. This event will once again push Atush’s football enthusiasm to a climax.
Athletes and fans from all over Xinjiang gathered in Atush City, and the exciting competitions on the field attracted the attention of all Xinjiang.
Why is Xinjiang’s most prestigious football tournament named “Atush Cup”? You know, Atush is just a county-level city located in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in the westernmost border of China.
The fate of Atush and football begins with a story that spans nearly a century.
There is a village in Artush called Iksak Village, which is known as the “Centennial Football Village”.
In 1927, the football craze that swept Iksak Village attracted the attention of the British and Swedish consulates in Kashgar, Xinjiang. In early May of the same year, at the invitation of the British and Swedish consulates in Kashgar, the Iksak Village football team came to Kashgar to compete with the football teams established by the consulates of the two countries. The stadium was packed with people inside and outside. The players from Iksak Village defeated their opponents with scores of 2:1 and 7:0 respectively under difficult living conditions at the time.
The victory sparked an enduring passion for football in the hearts of local residents.
In Iksak Village, both men, women and children, old and young, love football deeply and regard it as honor and life.
On November 14, a reporter from the Yangcheng Evening News visited Iksak Village and visited Iksak Primary School, Iksak Centennial Football Museum, and the Red Football Courtyard to explore the historical heritage of Atush Centennial Football Village.
Iksak Village Primary School has less than 500 students, but it has four football teams. Li Xiaojing, secretary of the school’s party branch, told reporters that the children in the school like football very much, and many of them go to the playground to play a kick during the 10 minutes between classes.
At the Centennial Football Museum, the reporter saw a group photo of the players who defeated the British and Swedish consulate teams. In the red football courtyard, the football-themed hand-paintings drawn by local children make the courtyard full of childlike interest.
Football here is not only entertainment, but also an important part of life.
For the Atush, being without football is like kebab without cumin. The saying “you can play football as soon as you can walk” is not an exaggeration for Atush, but a true portrayal of life.
Therefore, the Atush people proudly call their hometown the “Hometown of Chinese Football”, and the Xinjiang All-Xinjiang Football Invitational Tournament is held in Atush every year.
On November 14, a “Southern Xinjiang Derby” was held in the semi-finals of the All-Xinjiang Football Invitational Tournament – the Artush team faced the Kashgar team. The game attracted tens of thousands of spectators to the Kezhou Sports Center in Artush City. Not only were the seats packed at the game, but even the railings outside the football field were packed with spectators.
Although the Atush team eventually lost to the Kashgar team in a penalty shootout, the Atush people’s love for football has not changed at all.
Text, pictures, video | Yangcheng Evening News reporter Zhao Peng and intern Ye Qihong
