The green whirlwind of the Yili River Valley

In the evening, the high temperature gradually subsided in the Yili River Valley, Xinjiang. However, the "thermal value" of the Yining County Sports Center on the north bank of the Yili River is soaring, and thousands of fans flock to the stadium, shouting names of different towns, cheering for the figures running on the green field.

In early June, the "2025 Yining County Rural Football Super League" kicked off. After about three weeks of competition in the preliminary round, 20 teams from 10 counties and cities entered the finals. This summer football carnival on the western front will last until the end of August.

No superstars gathered, but every goal was deeply "smashed" into the hearts of the villagers.

"There is a gap in level, but I am happy to be able to play football for our hometown." On weekdays, 25-year-old decoration worker Danya Maimaijiang takes on work around Yining County. On the game day, he and his teammates set out from the construction site, farmland, schools, and offices respectively, gathered in the name of townships to go to the football appointment together. This is also a microcosm of all dozens of grassroots teams.

"Looking at the people around you, you are more enthusiastic." Fourth-grade student Maiswuti Abudushakpar watched the game with his uncle, and he was almost always there. Maxwiti has been studying in the county football training camp for two years, and his coach is also a member of the town team, which makes him very excited.

The main whistle Delishati Yimamu in the opening game has claimed many professional games such as the championship. At the age of 32, he took advantage of the holiday and returned to his hometown to serve the "village superstar" and helped to cultivate referee reserve talents. "This is still the football atmosphere in my memory, simple, warm, and equally wonderful!"

"Since the county's farmers and herdsmen and workers' sports meeting more than 20 years ago, our three major football competitions have never stopped." As a local from Yining County, Zhang Wei, the principal of the county's amateur sports school, is also proud of the sports atmosphere in his hometown. The football basketball queue in Yining County is a regular visitor on the podium of all competitions at all levels in Yili. On the eve of this year's "village superstar", there were also many professional players who went out of Yining County who sent congratulations videos to support the events in their hometown.

Zhang Wei introduced that the previous competition was held in townships and the venue was relatively simple, so many villagers squeezed into the roofs and trees to watch the competition. In recent years, Yining County's sports infrastructure has accelerated its development. This county sports center, built more than 10 years ago, has been upgraded and renovated in 2023, completing the renewal of artificial lawns, spectator seats, and affiliated sports venues. It can now accommodate more than 10,000 fans.

More changes are still outside the court. The most intuitive feeling of fans is that the increasingly dense highway network provides convenience for cross-county watching games. It was once out of reach, but now it is just a "shot of oil".

"In 2023, 16 teams participated in the first "Village Super League" and competed for 8 days. In 2024, there were 20 and 70 days. This year, nearly 30 teams have spanned nearly 3 months, and they have left Yining County for the first time and expanded to the entire Yili River Valley." Every game day, Chen Guanlin, the 28-year-old operation manager of "Village Super League", will keep a close eye on the stadium until the end.

"Grassroots + career" is the operating philosophy of Chen Guanlin's team. "No matter whether you were grazing last night or working, as soon as you go on the court today, you are the star in the hearts of the people." To this end, the operation team has put a lot of effort into the home and visiting team locker rooms, field layout, nutritional supplement supply, etc., and many standards refer to professional events, and strive to create a positive and healthy football cultural environment.

The market has also keenly captured the commercial value of Yining County's "village super" and the sponsorship amount has increased year by year. Among them are large companies and many local small and medium-sized township enterprises that are enthusiastic about football. This year, Mengniu and Coca-Cola also attracted the participation of Mengniu and Coca-Cola.

"The market's recognition of Yining County football has added to our confidence." In Chen Guanlin's mobile phone, he has always treasured the video he took during the summer vacation seven years ago: In a harvested wheat field in Yining County, people drove to flatten the land and set up wooden goals, men, women, young and old, barefoot, kicking until dark... In this way, this young man in Sichuan started his football relationship with Yining County.

The evening breeze blows, the wheat waves sway, and the Yili River Valley will enter the harvest season again. The football flew over the river valley, and the applause was like the tide, like the most beautiful echo. (Reporter Hu Huhu)