Original title: Hainan Weekly | Dongfang Andu Village Basketball Team: Grassroots basketball is also passionate
The Andu Village basketball team is training.Photo provided by interviewee
■ Hainan Daily reporter Zhang Wenjun
Recently, the Hainan Dongfang “Village BA” Basketball Super League is in full swing. 16 village-level basketball teams from 10 Dongfang towns and the Overseas Chinese Economic Zone are competing fiercely. Many villagers at the scene spontaneously became cheerleaders, cheering and shouting. The sound kept coming.
Among these 16 village-level basketball teams, the basketball team of Andu Village, Dongfang Tianan Township is very special. This village-level basketball team has been established for 10 years. The team members come from all walks of life. Among them are police officers from the police station, workers in the construction industry, planters, milk tea shop owners, wind power generation technicians, etc. They got together because of their love for basketball, practiced and played together for a long time, and formed a deep friendship.
Fu Qinzhang repairs electrical equipment.Photo provided by interviewee
Start on the village field
After several rounds of competition, the Andu Village basketball team has advanced to the quarterfinals of this year’s Oriental “Village BA” Basketball Super League.
On the morning of December 1, Fu Qinzhang, captain of the Andu Village basketball team, called several players to train at a basketball court in Dongfang City to prepare for a group match the next day.
He jumped hard, pushed the ball out, and put the basketball into the basket… After Fu Qinzhang warmed up, he easily completed his first shot. Talking about why he plays basketball, he said with a smile: “It’s very simple. Playing basketball is to be happy.”
Fu Qinzhang, 37, is from Andu Village and is currently a wind power technician at a power generation company. His relationship with basketball begins in middle school. When he was in the second year of junior high school, he first came into contact with basketball in a physical education class and fell in love with the sport. From then on, whenever other students had a break from get out of class, he would go to the school court to play basketball. Perhaps because he often plays ball, he grows very quickly and is the tallest among his peers.
Because of his outstanding performance on the court, when he graduated from the third year of junior high school, eight middle schools were interested in enrolling Fu Qinzhang as a basketball student of the school. However, Fu Qinzhang’s father didn’t want his son to become a special student. “My dad didn’t agree. He didn’t want me to suffer.” Soon after, the results of the high school entrance examination were announced. Fu Qinzhang scored more than 700 points, with excellent results, and was successfully admitted to eight middle schools. Although he failed to “associate” with basketball further, the love in his heart did not cool down.
In 2012, after graduating from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, he returned to his hometown of Dongfang to work. Inadvertently, he discovered that some basketball games were often held in the East, and his inner desire for basketball was ignited again. In 2013, he found several friends in the village who liked playing basketball, and after discussion, they decided to form a basketball team. At first, this basketball team only had 7 people.
At that time, there was no basketball court in Andu Village, so they went to play on a field court in the next village. “There was an open space there. We found a mobile basket and hung it on a coconut tree so we could play a game.” Fu Qinzhang recalled. Gradually, they emerged in some small local competitions and attracted many young people to join. Today, the basketball team has more than 20 members.
Over the years, many team members’ families or jobs have changed, and everyone is scattered throughout the East and other cities and counties. But whenever the team wants to participate in a game, everyone will try their best to arrange time to get together.
“Playing basketball can not only keep fit, but it is also cool and handsome, and can show personal charm.” Team member Chen Yuhua is the owner of a local milk tea shop, and playing basketball is his biggest hobby.
“Having a common interest and hobby makes it easier for everyone to communicate and make friends on the court.” Team member Wu Rongshan is a policeman from the Sixth Detachment of the Coastal Police Corps of the Hainan Provincial Public Security Department. Although he is very busy at work, he actively participates Team activities.
Chen Yuhua is in the milk tea shop.Photo provided by interviewee
They work hard both on and off the court
The members of the Andu Village Basketball Team come from the grassroots. In order to pursue what they love, they work hard to handle the relationship between basketball and life, and between basketball and work.
Every time after a game, player Chen Yuhua’s left ankle would feel a dull pain. After he joined the Andu Village basketball team in 2017, he accidentally sprained his left ankle during a training session and left an “old problem.” But he didn’t quit the basketball team. “I was a bit obese when I was 18 years old, and my family suggested that I exercise more. After some comparison, I chose to play basketball. I met these good partners and brothers on the court and cherished every opportunity to train and compete.”
Chen Yuhua usually has to take care of the business of the milk tea shop and has a lot of things to do, but every time the basketball team has a game, he always makes time to participate. Last year, Dongfang held the first “Community Cup” basketball game, which lasted for about 20 days. The Andu Village basketball team was one of the participating teams. At that time, Chen Yuhua’s wife was in the late stages of pregnancy and needed care. In order to participate in the competition and take care of his wife at the same time, he drove home immediately after each game.
There are many players in the team who are as persistent as Chen Yuhua. On November 14, a few days before the start of the Oriental “Village BA” Basketball Super League, the Andu Village Basketball Team played an exchange match with the Overseas Chinese Economic Zone Dapo Village Basketball Team. At that time, Wu Rongshan had just recovered from a high fever and was still relatively weak. In order to accumulate game experience and find his touch, he still chose to play.
The late NBA (American Professional Basketball League) superstar Kobe Bryant was the idol of many members of the Andu Village basketball team, so the team’s jerseys have the word “Mamba” printed on them. “Black Mamba” is Kobe’s nickname. People call Kobe’s basketball spirit the “Black Mamba Spirit”, and its general connotation is to never retreat and never give up.
It is this persistence and never giving up that keeps the Andu Village basketball team cohesive. This basketball team, with an average age of about 28 years old, has participated in the 7th Eastern Grassroots Basketball Club League and once won second place. The team also placed second in the first “Community Cup” basketball competition in the East in 2022.
Wu Rongshan (right) is at work.Photo provided by interviewee
More precious than basketball is friendship
“You can’t play basketball for a lifetime, but friendship can last a lifetime!” Chen Yuhua said.
Chen Yuhua often invites teammates to his milk tea shop to drink tea and chat. Sometimes, he also mobilizes everyone to go fishing in relevant waters on the outskirts of Dongfang City, or to barbecue or camp outdoors. He has skills in construction and decoration. If any of his teammates need to repair their house, he will come to do it for free. “Everyone should help each other.”
“Our team has some team-building activities every year. It has been 10 years since the team was established, and there has basically been no loss of team members.” Fu Qinzhang said.
Once a team member encounters difficulties, others are willing to lend a helping hand. In 2014, a member of the Andu Village basketball team nicknamed “Gao Lao” had his parents seriously ill and his family was in trouble. After hearing the news, the team members spontaneously donated money to him. “Most of the team members transfer money to him directly through WeChat,” Fu Qinzhang said.
“It’s fate that we all come together because of basketball. We play every game seriously and happily on the court, and we are lifelong friends off the court.” Wu Rongshan said that the friendship formed by fighting together on the court is even more precious.
Today, Fu Qinzhang is planning to cultivate his one-year-old son’s interest in basketball. He hopes that his son will also gain happiness and friendship from basketball in the future, and a lifetime of happiness and friendship. (Zhang Wenjun)
2023-12-04 02:59:35
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