A video showing a girl drop-kicking a soccer ball at an underground garage recently went viral online, sznews.com reported.
The girl, named Lian Yutong, is from Shenzhen Futian Primary School.
At only 12 years old, Lian has been practicing soccer for five and a half years.
In a soccer competition held in 2020 for Shenzhen’s primary and secondary school students, Lian helped her school win the championship at the girls’ competition and Lian herself was named the best striker.
Lian said playing soccer makes her the happiest and she hoped to one day play for the national team.
Xiao Fen, Lian’s mother, said no one from her family works in soccer-related fields.
Lian first played soccer when she was 7 years old, when parents in her class organized a game. Lian’s soccer journey started at that time when she ran to the pitch wearing a dancing outfit.
Lian’s parents sent her to a soccer club and even though Lian wasn’t used to it at first, she gradually adapted and found her position.
“I really like to play forward. I like the feeling of doing a step over and scoring a last-gasp winner,” Lian said.
Ma Xia, coach of the Futian Primary School girls’ soccer team, said Lian has a very good sense of ball. “She is fast and very spirited. After a period of hard work, Lian’s skills obviously improved with stronger core strength,” Ma said.
Some junior high schools even gave Lian an offer. Ma said, “We are hoping to cultivate more excellent soccer players and see them play for the national team.”
Shenzhen was selected by the country’s sports authority in January as one of the nine key cities in the national soccer development program during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).