Among the players this year was 31-year-old David Geary. A teacher at Guizhou University, Geary lived in Rongjiang as a child, moving back to the United Kingdom when he was 14.

He said that his love for soccer and Guizhou made him return to China. He considers Rongjiang his second home. Considered as one of them by the villagers of Liubaitang, he was allowed to join the village team and has played for it for two consecutive years.

"It's nice to see people playing soccer and cheering on their village. I'm proud to be a part of it, proud to be someone from Rongjiang," said Geary, adding that he hopes some young players will shine enough in the Village Super League to go professional.

Besides the Guizhou Village Super League, Rongjiang county is set to organize the first session of a national-level Village Super League. Invitational events with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative are also expected to be held during the National Day holiday this year, Wang of the super league office said.