Chongming Gen宝 Football Base Establishes New 2017-2018 Youth Team Under Xu Genbao
“Do youth training without flashy gimmicks; the key is producing talent and steadily delivering reliable new-generation players for Chinese football, which is our original aspiration and goal,” said 82-year-old coach Xu Genbao as the Chongming Genbao Football Base officially established its newest 2017-2018 age group team.
The establishment of the 2017-2018 cohort completes a three-tier youth development structure at the Chongming facility, which now features integrated pathways spanning the 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018 age groups, according to local media reports. The layout creates a progressive talent pipeline designed to supply continuous youth reserves for Shanghai and the broader national football system.
Three-Tier Youth Pipeline Structure at the Chongming Base
The multi-tiered framework organizes players into distinct developmental stages tailored to their age and skill level. The oldest group in the current setup, the 2013-2014 team, is managed by head coach Lü Wenjun. This squad focuses on accumulating competitive match experience, refining tactical execution under pressure, and preparing players for high-level youth competition.
Operating in the middle tier is the 2015-2016 team, which approaches its second year of operation. This group sits squarely in a critical developmental window for technical consolidation and tactical assimilation. Coaches emphasize the base’s signature “grab, press, and defend, receive, pass, and transition” philosophy, grounding players in fundamental skills, spatial awareness, and collective teamwork.
The newly inaugurated 2017-2018 cohort represents the youngest tier at the facility. Training for these players centers on cultivating an intrinsic interest in football, mastering basic motor skills, establishing healthy lifestyle habits, and forging resilience to build a foundation for long-term athletic growth.
Holistic Education and Dual-Heritage Prospects
Beyond on-field drills, the base maintains a strict daily routine based on the philosophy of prioritizing character development over athletic prowess. The curriculum integrates classroom education, moral discipline, self-regulation, and team responsibility into daily camp life. Closed-off management, mixed-age mentoring groups, and regular internal scrimmages test players’ technical abilities and psychological resilience.
The newest roster also features a notable personal story, including two sets of twins. One pair consists of twin brothers of Sino-African descent who hold Cameroonian heritage and Chinese citizenship. The arrival of the dual-heritage prospects drew comparisons from veteran staff to the base’s first-generation graduate, Eddy Francis, who also possessed mixed heritage and progressed through the Chongming system.
Decades of Producing National Team Talent
The Chongming facility has spent decades supplying top-tier talent to professional clubs and national squads, developing prominent internationals including Wu Lei, Yan Junling, Zhang Linpeng, and Zhu Chenjie. The latest expansion underlines the coaching staff’s ongoing commitment to grassroots development without prioritizing short-term gains over sustainable player growth.
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