Alex (Chile): I have amateur football team in Kunming

In Kunming, there is an amateur football team mostly comprised of individuals from South American countries. It is called Latino FC, and I’m the founder of this team.

Every week, my friends and I meet up at the Haigeng Sports Center near Dianchi Lake in Kunming to partake in football matches. Within a year, we’ve assembled a squad comprising 30 to 40 members. Our objective extends beyond personal enjoyment, as we aspire to instill a passion for the sport in a broader community, including local children and teenagers.

I was born in 1990. My hometown is Santiago, the capital of Chile. I come from a sports-oriented family. All six of my uncles are passionate about playing football, and my father once aspired to become a professional player.

I decided to pursue a degree in sports engineering at university, a field closely intertwined with his beloved hobby of football. Throughout my five years of academic training, I engaged myself in coordinating diverse sports events, aiming at enriching my expertise and comprehension of the sports industry as a whole.

 

Apart from my expertise in football, I also love playing tennis. I started picking up tennis when I was 14, and ever since, it has become an integral part of my life. As an internationally certified coach, I have imparted his tennis knowledge in various countries, even clinching victory in a local tennis competition in Kunming.

I had always envisioned China with great curiosity during my childhood. Yet, due to the distance, only a handful of individuals from South America had the opportunity to visit China. My first visit to China was approximately 5 years ago to take part in a tennis tournament. Shortly after, I made the decision to establish myself here and offer tennis coaching in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

I lived in Dongguan for a year and a half and traveled extensively across China. However, Kunming is the city that has left an indelible mark on me. Consequently, I made the decision to relocate here and continue pursuing my sports aspirations in this captivating “Spring City”.

 

Our football team was founded in May 2019. Currently, we boast a roster of over 30 players who actively participate together, with the majority hailing from various Latin countries such as Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, and more.

Before I came to Kunming, I had never fathomed encountering so many individuals who speak my native language, Spanish. It truly astonished me! Moreover, engaging in football together is the ultimate bonding experience for South American communities.

 

I've met numerous teenagers in Kunming who exhibit a genuine passion for the sport, akin to the young men I've encountered in South America. I firmly believe that with more support and encouragement, they will develop a deep love for football. This will pave the way for the “football culture” to take root and flourish in Kunming.

Reporting and translating by Wang Jingzhong; photographs and video by Li Wenjun (Yunnan Gateway)