Reporter Wang Wei reports From January 11 to 26, 2025, the "2025 Eurasian China Youth Benfica Football Training Activity" hosted by Eurasia Industrial (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. and co-organized by Guangzhou Benfica Football Co., Ltd. and J.P. Treasure CLUB was successfully held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. During this period, the official representative of the Portuguese club Benfica in China and the chairman of Guangzhou Benfica Football Co., Ltd. Chacha Cha had extensive exchanges with the president of Benfica FC Rui Costa, the former foreign minister of Portugal Antonio da Cruz, and the president of the Portuguese Chinese Chamber of Commerce Cai Wenxian and other people from all walks of life. Cha Cha, who recently returned to Guangzhou, said in an interview with this newspaper: "This event is the starting point for us to deepen cooperation with Benfica FC, and we hope to further promote the in-depth cooperation between China and Portuguese football through this platform." ”

At the beginning of the new year, Cha Cha once again emphasized his firm belief in the sustainable development of Chinese football: "The reform of Chinese football requires a combination of international vision and commercial operation model, and only under the unity of feelings and business models can long-term sustainable development be achieved." "The confidence identified comes from a long period of research and an in-depth knowledge of Portuguese football, especially the support of former Portuguese foreign minister Antonio da Cruz, with whom he has been friends for more than two decades.

Cruz is not only a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Lisbon and an independent director of the Benfica Club, but also plays an important role in the diplomatic affairs between Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking countries. Years ago, it was with his matchmaking that he established a deep partnership with Benfica FC. Cruz believes that football is a good vehicle to promote exchanges between China and Portugal, especially in Portugal, which is in line with China's growing demand for football. He suggested that youth training should be used as a breakthrough in football cooperation between China and Portugal, and Benfica should be used as a platform to promote in-depth cooperation between the two countries and further deepen friendship.

On October 21, 2024, Cruz and Chacha communicated with the leaders of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education and the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, and visited the Guangzhou Football Association. In this exchange, Cruz stressed that Chinese football, especially Guangdong football, should connect the model of youth training with the model of Portugal, promote the integration of sports and education, and promote the rapid development of football in Guangzhou through the method of "please come in and go out".

He believes that football youth training is the key to the development of Chinese football, and the Portuguese club Benfica, which has achieved outstanding results in youth training over the years, is undoubtedly one of the most potential partners. Many years ago, he began to plan a cooperation project with Portugal and acquired a small island in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, just 8 minutes from the Benfica Football School. The future plan is to build the island into an overseas training base for Chinese football youth, and become a hub for football exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The 2025 Eurasian China Youth Benfica Football Training Activity was found to go to Benfica with sincere cooperation intentions, and received a positive response from Benfica Club. Benfica FC President Rui Costa said that he hopes to carry out deeper cooperation with Eurasia Industry to promote the close connection between Chinese football and Portuguese football.

During their stay in Portugal, Benfica Football Club has arranged four experienced youth coaches to provide professional training for Chinese football youth. During the training process, Benfica FC records and analyzes the players' training and match performance in detail, and through this data, the coaches are able to provide personalized guidance and suggestions in a timely manner, helping the players to continuously improve in terms of technique, physical fitness and mentality. Every player can feel the care and attention of the coach, not only to improve their skills, but also to guide their personal development, and to receive a tailor-made training plan according to their individual characteristics, so as to maximize their potential. At the same time, the coaches gave a positive assessment of the technical level of the Chinese players, and the players showed a very good technical foundation and football feeling, which made the coaches full of confidence in the future of Chinese youth.

Behind this series of professional training, it also reflects Benfica's deep concern and full support for Chinese football youth. Through this international training model, Chinese football teenagers can not only improve their skills, but also broaden their horizons, inspire their thinking, and enhance their understanding and enthusiasm for football through exchanges and interactions with world-class clubs. This kind of cross-border international exchange not only helps children master a higher level of technology, but also cultivates their teamwork spirit, psychological quality and adaptability, laying a solid foundation for their future development.

The event was strongly supported by the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, Zhao Bentang, who personally received the Chinese football teenagers and interacted with them at several events, demonstrating the country's high level of attention to the youth football program. Ambassador Zhao Bentang said that the event reflected China's initiative on the international sports stage, and hoped to use it as a starting point to promote in-depth cooperation between China and Portugal in the field of football.

At the same time, Cai Wenxian, President of the Portuguese Chinese Chamber of Commerce, also supported the event and invited Chinese football teenagers to visit his company, which further promoted the cooperation between China and Portugal in the field of football.

Through this event, Mr. Cha Cha had several in-depth talks with the President of Benfica Football Club, Rui Costa, and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Cruz, also personally introduced to Rui Costa the Eurasian Industry and the plan to build a Chinese football base in Portugal. Rui Costa recognized the identified goals and plans, and expressed concern about the football base construction plan proposed by Eurasia Industrial, and the two sides reached a number of important cooperation agreements, the specific cooperation content is as follows:

First, promote the construction of the youth training system of Sino-Portuguese football. Set up a football sports and education integration class to provide a scientific football training system for children from K1 to K6 (primary school), starting from interest classes, and investing more training resources after discovering the potential of football; Seek to set up a football specialty class to provide a pathway for young people who are focused on football careers in junior high school and high school, and ensure that football training and cultural courses are carried out simultaneously; Through the promotion of Eurasia Industries, Benfica plans to establish a football school in China to further expand the influence of its youth training system; Empowering China's football schools, introducing an efficient and scientific training system, and organically cooperating with Benfica's scouting system to tap and cultivate potential football teenagers.

Second, the Chinese football youth training program in foreign countries. According to the needs of Chinese players, we provide short-term, medium-term and long-term training programs, and help Chinese football teenagers to integrate with international standards through more scientific training and a more systematic integration mechanism. The short-term training will focus on one-on-one training on technical development and weak areas, the medium-term training will be combined with competition training, and the long-term training will be dedicated to full integration into Benfica's youth system.

Third, the introduction and training system of coaches. Benfica will send its excellent coaching team to China to carry out short-term, medium-term and long-term coach training programs based on its self-developed syllabus and assessment indicators. On the one hand, in the Chinese environment, we will teach locally according to local conditions; On the other hand, it helps Chinese coaches master advanced training methods and management concepts.

Fourth, Benfica's naming rights. Eurasia Industrial has obtained the title title, stadium advertising and investment promotion rights for Benfica FC's home stadium in China, as well as advertising on the club's body, which will help further enhance the international influence of Chinese brands.

Fifth, Benfica's first-team, reserve or women's team visit China in 2025. Eurasia plans to promote Benfica's first team, reserve team and women's football team to visit China in 2025 to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Portuguese football.

Sixth, the 2025 selection plan. Benfica will launch a more rigorous selection mechanism in 2025 to ensure that only the most promising players can enter Benfica's youth training system, further enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese football teenagers.

Eurasia Industry has always believed that the "organic integration of education and sports" is the best mechanism for the development of youth sports in China, especially in the field of football youth training. Chen Wei, the technical director of Eurasia Industrial Football Youth Training, has long been rooted in the campus and amateur football circle in Guangdong, and has trained many professional football players, including Chen Zirong and other active players. He believes that the "education + sports" resource package provided by Benfica, combined with comprehensive quality education such as language and cultural education, can effectively solve the pain points faced by young people in the process of growing up, such as further education, overseas study and employment, and open up a way out for professional football and related industries for children.

At the same time, Eurasia Industry plans to explore the introduction of AI simulation training system and big data analysis into China's football youth training system, improve training efficiency through standardized models, and try to make new breakthroughs in the field of scientific and technological innovation. In addition, the company was authorized by DIFA (the highest governing body of global deaf football) to promote the relocation of its headquarters to Greater China, and appointed Mr. Cha Cha as the global executive vice chairman and chairman of Asia, and established the DIFA Global Foundation to promote the development of world deaf football.

Through the in-depth cooperation between Eurasia Industry and Benfica FC, the cooperation between China and Portugal has entered a new stage. The two sides have carried out all-round cooperation in youth training system, scientific and technological innovation, cultural exchanges and commercial operations, providing an international and professional training platform for Chinese youth, and promoting the transformation of Chinese football from traditional experience to technology-driven. The event not only raised the level of competition, but also deepened the friendship between China and Portugal through cultural interaction, opening up a sustainable path for the international development of Chinese football. The efforts identified and the strategic consensus between the two sides have not only injected new vitality into Chinese football, but also contributed to the sports and cultural cooperation between China and Portugal.