Xinhua News Agency, Urumqi, October 21st: Title: Drawing “Concentric Circles” This Xinjiang primary school started with football
Xinhua News Agency reporter
Recently, Rehamatijiang Jumayi, who has been a primary school football coach for nearly 10 years, has a new identity as the coach of the “121 Tongxin” football team.
121 refers to the No. 121 Primary School in Urumqi, Xinjiang, where he works; Tongxin means that players of all ethnic groups are one and united.
This team is all graduates of 121 Primary School and is composed of Han, Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui and Kirgiz players. Rehamatijiang Jumayi said: “Because they are grateful to their alma mater and miss this big family, the children spontaneously formed a team to participate in the ‘Kashgar Cup’ football match in November.”
On April 16, in the fifth primary and secondary school football league in Shuimogou District, Urumqi, the Urumqi No. 121 primary school football team took a group photo after winning the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
“The word ‘Tongxin’ in the team name was decided upon by the whole team through collective discussion,” said Li Lei, the principal of 121 Primary School. “It not only represents the brothers’ unity on the field and their ability to cut through gold, but also means that in life, they are of the same heart and are as close as one family.”
It was 121 Primary School established in 2011 that planted the football dream for young people. At the beginning of the school’s founding, Li Lei regarded sports as the focus of his work and proposed “making health the foundation of the school.” Li Lei said: “Civilization depends on the spirit, barbarism depends on the body. Sports are an important part of education.”
Among many sports, 121 Primary School chose football. In the second year after the school was founded, the “Little Horse” campus football team began to take shape. Li Lei said that there are two reasons for choosing football. First, for a long time, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have widely participated in football and the atmosphere is strong. “Adults and children play, play in the streets and alleys, and play all year round. Many children have fallen in love with football as long as they can remember.”
Second, as a collective project, football can cultivate young people’s sense of honor and team spirit. “Compared to other sports, football can accommodate and drive more participants.” Li Lei said, “More than 20 children play football, and more than 1,000 students in the school watch the football. They can be inspired both on and off the field.”
On April 16, in the fifth primary and secondary school football league in Shuimogou District, Urumqi, members of the Urumqi No. 121 primary school football team (in red) competed. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
In order to enhance the competitiveness of the team, 121 Primary School, with the support of superior authorities, recruits students with football talents from all over Xinjiang. At first, 121 Primary School, which had no outstanding results, was not well-known. Li Lei and Rehamatijiang Jumayi will go to Kashgar, Ili, Altay and other places to introduce 121 Primary School through local schools or training institutions, so that more children who love playing football can learn about “Little Horse”.
“Evaluating young players depends on their comprehensive performance on and off the field. No matter what region or nationality they come from, we treat them equally,” Li Lei said. Thanks to the support of higher-level departments, the school provides free food and accommodation for young players who live out of town. There are also life teachers to take care of daily life, and classroom teachers to help with homework in shifts.
The “Little Horse” football team is becoming more and more powerful and its strength is improving day by day. In the 2015-2016 Urumqi Campus Football League, the “Little Horse” participated for the first time and achieved a complete victory; in 2016, it won the championship of the primary school group of the Beijing National Green Youth Invitational Tournament; in 2017, it won the U12 group championship of the “Hundred Team Cup” Intercity Invitational Tournament…
On April 16, in the fifth primary and secondary school football league in Shuimogou District, Urumqi, the Urumqi No. 121 primary school football team celebrated after winning the game. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
The team’s performance is excellent and the children’s life and study are guaranteed, which makes 121 Primary School gain more trust. “Now every year, many coaches and parents take the initiative to recommend good talents to us.” Rehamatijiang Jumayi said.
In 2017, 121 Primary School was rated as a national primary and secondary football school, and has since been rated as a two-level football school in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Urumqi City. What makes Li Lei even more gratified is that in addition to competitions, football has gradually become the focus of the school’s national unity work.
The Erdaoqiao and Shanxi Lane area in Urumqi, where Li Lei lived as a child, has been an important business circle in Xinjiang since the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Residents of all ethnic groups have interacted, exchanged, and blended for a long time, forming a multi-ethnic residential area with rich customs here. “Neighbors of all ethnic groups love to play football, and a crowd can gather together just by shouting.”
“It is better to live together than to study together, and it is better to play together than to live together.” Li Lei said that education through football is moisturizing and silent. “Playing is the best way for children to open their hearts and accept each other, and football is an excellent platform for playing together.”
On October 17, at Urumqi No. 121 Primary School, students of the football team were conducting daily training. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
Today, the “Little Horse” football team has four echelons of different age groups, with players from seven ethnic groups including Han, Uyghur, and Kazakh. Rehamatijiang Jumayi said: “During training and competition, the children are teammates who work together and work together. When they step off the court, they are also brothers who laugh, play and have deep feelings.”
In addition to out-of-school competitions, the school also established class leagues, and the school team players naturally became the core of each class on the field. 13-year-old Mustafa Maimaiti serves as a defender in the class. Not only does he have excellent football skills, but he can also inspire his teammates and has become a “little star” in the class. “My classmates all praised me and helped me. I am very proud. I will work harder to help the class win honors in the future.”
“The young players of the school team are integrated into the class as the shining point and spokesperson of the collective. These children are proud of the school and class, and their classmates are also proud of them.” Li Lei said, “Starting from loving the class and loving the school, these children will love their hometown and the motherland even more when they grow up.”
On October 17, at Urumqi No. 121 Primary School, students of the football team were conducting daily training. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
Regardless of training or competition, children must line up neatly, face the national flag and sing the national anthem. After the performance, the children would gather together and shout “come on” before disbanding. In Li Lei’s view, these rituals in football are very helpful for the growth of children.
“These rituals may seem subtle, but they will make the children feel that they are doing the same things as the stars, which can increase their enthusiasm.” Li Lei said, “On the other hand, the children’s awareness of patriotism and collective love will continue to accumulate.”
Whenever the national anthem is played, 13-year-old Anisel Ahematijiang always thinks of his idol Wu Lei. “He is my favorite national football player. Although the national football team sometimes does not play well, it is also our country’s team. I hope to grow up quickly and join the national team to win glory for the country.”
Over the years, the objective academic pressure and performance assessment have become a major obstacle to the promotion of “integration of sports and education” in primary and secondary schools. In Li Lei’s view, if this problem cannot be faced squarely, it will not only affect the team’s performance, but may also affect the creation of “concentric circles.”
The school implements mixed classes, dividing the football team students into different classes. In order to get more support from the head teacher, the school will set up a separate algorithm for the “language and mathematics” subjects of the football team students in the city-wide, district-wide and school-wide examinations. If the performance of the children on the team improves, it will be of great help to the class average.
At Urumqi No. 121 Primary School, students learn painting under the guidance of teachers (photo taken on October 17). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
In addition, in the school football league, classes with outstanding performance will also receive corresponding bonus points. As a result, the head teacher no longer “shifts into reverse gear”, but instead competes for these “hotties” who can play football. “This is a systematic project. Only by working together can all parties achieve better comprehensive results,” Li Lei said.
This emotion and recognition born of football has also infected adults.
“Dolls have the national unity of babies, and adults also have the national unity of adults.” Li Lei said that when the team competes everywhere, parents will also accompany the team and cheer for the “little horse” together; outside the game, parents of all ethnic groups naturally become good friends, taking care of each other’s children, meeting for dinner and travel. The football team became a multi-ethnic family.
“Emotions between people are mutual.” Li Lei said. Just like the practice of the “Little Horse” football team, schools, teachers, parents and children work together to gain a full sense of identity, belonging and pride.
At Urumqi No. 121 Primary School, students of the football team are conducting daily training (photo taken on October 17). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Faye Wang
The reporter was interviewing during the break between classes. On the green field, students ran around the football and laughed endlessly. A round football brings children of all ethnic groups together, and their future is far broader than a football field.
Editor in charge: Li Xiujuan
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