GULIN TOWN, Haishu District-In a stunning upset, Buzheng Primary School clinched the championship title at the 2025 ZSFL Zhejiang Province 16th Primary and Secondary school Campus Football League Finals, held may 10-14.This victory marks only the second time a Ningbo primary school has achieved this honor in the primary school men’s division.

A First-Time Provincial appearance Ends in Gold

buzheng Primary School’s journey to the top began in April when they secured their first-ever championship in the Ningbo Campus Football League’s men’s Group A competition. This victory was also a historic first for the Haishu District. Riding this momentum, the team advanced to the provincial stage.

During the provincial tournament, the young athletes displayed remarkable composure, securing the top spot in their group and advancing to the quarterfinals. Facing seasoned football powerhouses in the subsequent rounds, Buzheng’s players demonstrated grit and determination, ultimately earning a place in the finals. The championship match saw them triumph wiht a score of 3-2, a testament to their unwavering spirit and the coach’s strategic counter-attack tactics.

When the final whistle sounded and when I saw us win,my legs suddenly lost their strength and knelt directly on the grass. I couldn’t tell weather it was sweat or tears on my cheeks. I could only hear the roaring shouts like a tsunami up the stands.
– Hou Zhishuo, Player, Class 603, Buzheng Primary school

Hou Zhishuo, a player from Class 603, reflected on the intense training leading up to the victory: We are the champions! We did it!

Building a Footballing Foundation

Buzheng Primary School’s rise in the campus football scene is a relatively recent advancement. The school’s commitment to football education began in 2017.

At that time, there was only one simple football field in the school, and the sports facilities and equipment were not complete.
– Chen Xinbin, Teacher, Sports Teaching and Research group

According to Chen Xinbin, a teacher in the Sports Teaching and Research Group, the school decided to focus on football as a means to enhance the quality of education.This dedication led to Buzheng Primary School being recognized as a “National Youth Campus Football Specialty School” in 2020. That same year, the Haishu District Education Bureau invested in a five-person cage-making football stadium, providing a significant boost to the school’s football program.

The school’s ideology extends beyond simply training athletes.We are not going to train professional players, but to make football a carrier for educating people, according to a school official. This vision translated into a thorough approach, with the principal leading a dedicated team of teachers and staff.Football was integrated into the school’s curriculum, and ample resources were allocated to physical education equipment.

A Thriving “Football Ecosystem”

Buzheng Primary School has developed a robust “football ecosystem,” supported by detailed documentation such as “Football Skills Evaluation Standards” and “Collage Team Training Management System.” The school offers weekly football classes, daily football activities, and semester-long class leagues, making football a defining characteristic of the school.

Each class, from grades 1 to 6, has its own football team, complete with student-selected team names, slogans, and captains. Football has taught children the awareness of rules, team spirit and ability to resist frustration, noted head teacher Xu Peiqin.

This “pyramid” model has also proven successful in developing football talent for middle schools and district teams. The school’s football culture extends beyond the field, with football-themed projects appearing in various subjects, from “World Cup” themed newspapers to geometry lessons involving shooting angles.

The champion is not the end. We want to prove that as long as there is enough sunshine, every seed can grow freely.Let football affect children’s lives, perhaps this is the most authentic meaning of ‘campus football’, a school representative stated.