Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China Liu Zhenya (left center, second row) and Chinese Consulate General to Sao Paulo Chen Xi (to Liu’s left) take a photo with representatives from Sao Paulo State Football Federation and Sao Paulo Football Club as well as U-15 youth team from Luneng on July 15 at the Luneng Brazil Sports Center.[Provided to CHINA DAILY]

The Luneng Brazil Sports Center, the first overseas youth training center for Chinese soccer, was kicked off on July 15.

Located in the port city of Porto Feliz, Sao Paulo State, the 160,000-square-meter site has five standard soccer training pitches and two futsal training pitches. It can accommodate 190 people.

Endorsed by FIFA, the Luneng Brazil Sports Center was used by the Honduras national team as a training camp during the 2014 World Cup. The center includes player apartments, a restaurant, gym, physical therapy room, activity room, meeting room and swimming pool.

On July 6, the Under 15 (U-15) youth team from Luneng arrived at the center, and in August and September, the U-14, U-16, U-17 teams will all come to Brazil to train and compete here.

Luneng Brazil Sports Center is not only for the youth of Luneng, but also for domestic and international club teams and national teams at all levels. Targeting the 13-17 age group, the best players will be selected from Luneng Football School in Shandong province and come to Brazil to learn soccer techniques and participate in the Brazilian youth soccer league. 

For China Daily

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