A Chinese-Cape Verdean mixed-race boy galloping on the Loess Plateau

Reported by Wang Wei from Zhidan On August 13, in the third match of the primary school group stage of the third "Century-old Famous Schools Cup" Football Elite Exchange Tournament, the Shanxi Linfen No.1 Central School team faced the Hangzhou Xuejun Primary School. A young player with big eyes and deep features from Linfen No.1 Central School made an inside cut and curled a left-footed shot into the net, breaking the deadlock for his team.

This young player's name is Huang Yuansen, a mixed-race boy of Chinese and Cape Verdean descent. His father is from Hebei, who met his mother, from the West African island nation of Cape Verde, while working in foreign trade. Both of them love football.

Huang Yuansen first came into contact with football during the 2018 World Cup. "I was only three years old then, and that's when I got to know football. I watched more games during the 2022 World Cup, and since then, football has become my greatest love," he said.

At the age of five and a half, Huang Yuansen returned to China. He started playing football in third grade, serving as a right wing-back in the team, capable of both offense and defense. Over the past two years, Xiao Huang has grown into one of the team's most outstanding players.

During the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Cape Verde national team left a deep impression on fans worldwide. This West African island nation, with a population of less than 600,000, drew 0-0 with eventual champion Spain in their opening group match; then came from 1-2 down to draw 2-2 with two-time World Cup winner Uruguay; after a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in the final round, they advanced to the knockout stage with three draws and three points. In the knockout stage, facing defending champion and eventual runner-up Argentina, they equalized twice after falling behind, eventually losing 2-3 after extra time.

Huang Yuansen's mother is from Cape Verde. When asked if he had watched Cape Verde's performance in the World Cup, the slightly shy mixed-race boy said, "Their goalkeeper (Vozinha) fought very hard, and the team's attack was also good. Although it's not a big country, their football skills are very good."

The rise of Cape Verdean football is inseparable from naturalized players, but this young boy running on the field in Zhidan represents a reverse story — the bloodline of Cape Verde has landed in Linfen, Shanxi, China, taking root and sprouting under the call of football.

Speaking of his future dreams, Huang Yuansen said he hopes to play for the Chinese national team. "This is the goal I set when I came to China at the age of five. I hope to work hard and eventually make it into the Chinese national team." During this "Century-old Famous Schools Cup" in Zhidan, after every team victory, Xiao Huang's first thanks go to his "teammates who fought hard." He is very appreciative and knows how to share.

Tian Jie, coach of the Shanxi Linfen No.1 Central School team, said, "Before this year's World Cup, Xiao Huang did not receive much attention. After the World Cup, Cape Verdean football gained huge influence, and Huang Yuansen, who loves playing football, also attracted outside attention. I hope the child can develop better in the future, and I hope he can become a bridge between China and Cape Verde in football and culture."

Besides Cape Verde, Huang Yuansen also likes Spain. "I especially like Spain's Yamal, his breakthroughs on the right wing are very sharp. I also like playing in that position," he said.

From the Atlantic island nation to the green fields of the Loess Plateau, from the World Cup stage to the Century-old Famous Schools Cup, Huang Yuansen embodies the resilience of Cape Verde and the hard work of China, telling a touching story of football crossing mountains and seas, connecting the friendship between China and Cape Verde. (Intern Li Peizhe also contributed.)