Kaka gets a kick out of Village Super League

The Village Super League soccer tournament in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, captured widespread attention again this week with the arrival of former Brazilian soccer star Ricardo Kaka.

Kaka's visit was part of the Chasing Dreams girls' soccer championship charity project.

On Monday evening, at the Village Super League grounds, Kaka served as the honorary coach of a girls' soccer team for a match.

The young players, familiar with each other's strategies and skills, played an intensely competitive game, which ended in a 0:0 draw.

Kaka said he was honored to come to China to participate in the charitable event and inspire young soccer enthusiasts. He said soccer is more than just a sport because it carries the power of love and hope. In Rongjiang, he sees a bright future for Chinese women's soccer.

"I want to help these girls, these boys and the young generation here in China to achieve their goals," he said.

Regarding the development of youth soccer in Rongjiang, Kaka highlighted the importance of fostering a passion for the sport. He recommended focusing on nurturing children's enthusiasm, providing more training opportunities and improving infrastructure.

"I hope one day I can come back and have more time to see the good things from this area," he said.

The Chasing Dreams girls' soccer championship charity project was launched last July in Rongjiang, providing local youth with long-term coaching, training equipment and support. The squad now boasts 106 players, selected from girls born in Rongjiang between 2012 and 2015.

Following the girls' soccer match, Kaka treated the fans to a display of his soccer prowess. Leading and captaining the "Kaka and his champion partners" team, they faced off against a team coached by Hong Kong television host and racehorse trainer Natalis Chan.

Both sides featured a blend of Olympic champions, former national team players, renowned figures from the arts and sports, and Village Super League players.

Kaka scored in the 36th minute of the game, evoking memories of his glory days playing for AC Milan, when he was known as the "Prince of San Siro".

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn