During a recent visit to Suzhou, Du Zhaocai and his delegation conducted an in-depth inspection of the Suzhou Sports School, examining the facility’s training infrastructure and attending a youth development roundtable. Du praised the efforts of Jiangsu’s provincial sports bureau in promoting women’s football, highlighting how local sports departments have long placed great emphasis on developing the women’s game.

He noted that Jiangsu has built a well-rounded youth training system with strong support structures, making significant contributions to the national women’s football program. The cities of Changzhou and Suzhou are now actively competing to become designated Chinese Football Association (CFA) youth training hubs for women’s football. Their integrated approach—which combines education with athletic development, involves partnerships between enterprises and schools, and encourages community participation—has become a model for others.

Du emphasized that youth development is the bedrock of China’s football training system and represents the future of the sport. He shared that the CFA is currently preparing its “Steel Roses Bloom Again” initiative, and encouraged Jiangsu to seize this strategic moment in football reform by continuing to strengthen its youth training infrastructure. The goal is to cultivate more talented players who can contribute to the long-term success of Chinese football.

While in Changzhou, the delegation also visited several educational and athletic institutions, including Hutangqiao Junior High School, Provincial Wujiang Senior High School, Diao Zhuang Primary School in Tianning District, the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, and the Chang’ao Sports facility. They observed training sessions across different youth age groups and gained a close understanding of the students’ daily lives. Officials asked detailed questions about the local women’s football training center—focusing on funding, player recruitment, coaching staff development, regular competition schedules, and facility operations.

This visit reflects a broader commitment to grassroots football in China. And while the world’s eyes may be on major events like the BD Cricket Match, these behind-the-scenes efforts in cities like Suzhou and Changzhou are laying the groundwork for China’s football future—slowly but surely, brick by brick.