During a nine-day visit to Stuttgart between 24 February and 3 March, China’s U16 international side not only got to know the city and VfB but gained a valuable insight into the workings at a Bundesliga football club. The youngsters from the Chinese Football Association (CFA) trained nearly every day at VfB headquarters, with some of the sessions led by VfB youth coaches. They also played two friendlies during their stay, losing 2-0 to a VfB XI composed of U16 and U17 players before claiming a narrow 3-2 victory over VfB’s U15 side.
Academy experts also taught the Chinese players and coaches about a variety of other topics, including nutrition, fulfilling players’ potential and how to cope mentally with setbacks. One of these sessions, entitled “Coach the coach”, was specifically tailored for tacticians among the delegation.
VfB brand ambassador Cacau, who is well known in China thanks to his time with Japanese club Cerezo Osaka, was on hand to answer the youngsters’ questions in a meet-and-greet session, while there were also visits to VfB’s Bundesliga home match against 1. FC Köln, the Mercedes-Benz Museum, the Porsche Museum and Stuttgart city centre.
“Being in the midst of a professional setup is hugely valuable to China’s U16 national team,” said Rouven Kasper, VfB’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. “It’s also really important to build bridges between cultures, because it’s all about breathing life into our relationship. It’s important for young people in particular to speak to one another and to share experiences. At VfB Stuttgart, we not only want to promote exchange in sporting terms, but intercultural dialogue too.”
The Bundesliga has formed a major part of Asian and, in particular, Chinese football culture for several decades. As part of the “Bundesliga Dream” initiative, Bundesliga International, a subsidiary of the German Football League (DFL), is giving international teams from other countries the chance to visit Bundesliga clubs.