Longtian Subdistrict is crowned champion of the Second Shenzhen Subdistrict Soccer Invitational Tournament. Photos from Pingshan Media Center
Longtian Subdistrict from Pingshan District won the championship of the Second Shenzhen Subdistrict Soccer Invitational Tournament on Sept. 21 at Longhua Culture and Sports Center. Houmen Subdistrict from Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone secured the runner-up position, and Yantian Subdistrict from Yantian District took the third place.
The event captured significant attention on mainstream and social media, amassing 310 million views on posts related to the topic "Our Subdistrict Super League is back" and 6 million views of its livestreaming.
Co-organized by the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and Pingshan District People's Government, the invitational began June 30 and included participation from over 1,100 players from 32 teams. Matches were held in Pingshan, Bao'an, Futian, Guangming and Longhua.
Fondly dubbed the "Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League" by soccer fans, the tournament garnered acclaim for its innovative blend of soccer and community engagement. During the final, fans not only watched thrilling games but also enjoyed a variety of activities, including a live music performance, interactive games and first-aid workshops, truly embracing the vibrant soccer culture in Shenzhen.
Among this year's 1,100 players, 16 were expats. One participant, a student from Zambia at Shenzhen Polytechnic University, noted that every time he shared photos and videos with his family, they assumed he was playing in a professional league.
The Shenzhen Subdistrict Super League has also stimulated spending in cultural and tourism sectors, underscoring its immense popularity. Building on this success, Pingshan will continue to hold the "Hundreds of Counties, Thousands of Towns, and Myriads of Villages" Public Welfare Tour Tournament. This event features soccer matches, cultural exchanges, and charitable efforts, reaching out to counties, townships, and villages throughout Guangdong and beyond.