Congo wins inaugural consulates soccer league

Members from the Guangzhou consulate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrate after winning the "Consulate Champion League" by beating Mexico 2-1 in the final. [Photo by Li Jiangwen / for chinadaily.com.cn]

A soccer team made up of staff from the Guangzhou consulate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo won a tournament featuring several overseas consulates, by beating counterparts from Mexico 2-1 on Sunday.

The tournament, organized by Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F, was aimed at boosting grassroots soccer communication between Guangzhou consulates of the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with Chinese teams of Guangzhou Feifu and Guangzhou R&F Media United.

"We will develop the tournament into a leading platform for soccer communications for consulates in Guangzhou," said Huang Shenghua, deputy chairman of Guangzhou R&F Football Club.

According to Huang, the month-long tournament will become an annual carnival and more such grassroots events will be promoted in the years ahead.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn