The Dalian Professional FC Under-14 football team has wrapped up its Qatar Foundation tour with six young players, along with six Qatar Foundation youth, serving as flag bearers for the final of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, which took place at Khalifa International Stadium on December 21.
Dalian Professional FC came to Qatar as part of Wanda’s FIFA Flag Bearers Programme at the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, an ongoing initiative between Qatar Foundation (QF) and Wanda aimed at inspiring the next generation of football talent in China and all over the world.
Liu Enzhe, 14, and a defender for Dalian Professional FC, said: “As a child I used to watch a lot of football and saw young kids carrying the flag into the stadium and I never imagined that one day I would get the opportunity to do the same. I was extremely excited. I followed all the instructions as every movement must be precise.”
During the week-long tour, each of the 22 aspiring footballers were given the chance to serve as flag bearers, along with 18 young people from QF’s sport and community programmes.
Lincoln Zhang, Wanda President of Culture, said: “Wanda Group has powerful and deep-rooted connections to football in China, particularly in our home of Dalian. It is our commitment to continue to support the development of the sport through initiatives in China and across the world that provide players and fans with richer experiences.”
As part of the tour, the visiting Chinese team also played three friendly games against select teams from Aspire Academy, Qatar Academy Doha, and Qatar Foundation, and trained at QF’s facilities in Education City.
The team was also given the opportunity to participate in a series of cultural activities, visiting landmarks such Souq Waqif and the National Museum of Qatar and enjoying the sport and entertainment Education City has to offer from golf, bowling, recreation centres and more.
Mei Cheng Fu, 14 and a goalkeeper for Dalian Professional FC said: “I was excited to be a part of the tour and visit Qatar as I had watched China play Qatar last year and then earlier this year when they won the Asian Cup.”
Further to the Dalian Professional FC tour, the partnership has also enabled 18 Qatar Foundation youth, including those from the ability friendly programme to also participate in the Wanda FIFA Flag Bearers Programme.
