The first season of the new Shenzhen International Amateur Football League (SIAFL) for expats kicked off on Monday, as 128 expats playing across eight teams got together in Futian District, despite heavy rain. The deadline to join the new league was August 15.

SIAFL said in an official statement earlier this year: “Unlike the other big cities in the East of China, Shenzhen has yet to create a foreign run amateur football league. Leagues in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong have been running successful for decades now, and it’s time for Shenzhen to catch up.”

The eight-a-side matches last a full 90 minutes, and the league runs for 14 weeks with games every Monday night. The teams are: SZ Tigers FC, SWIS, Lunatics FC, Colombian Dream, Inter SZ FC, Dog & Duck FC, World United FC, and The Wild Geese. Some interesting names.

Some of the expats involved in the SIAFL spoke with Shenzhen Daily on Monday to share their thoughts and feelings on the expat league.

“Our utmost goal, if possible, is to form a high-level Shenzhen expat team and join an eight-a-side tournament against other teams in Asia. That dream might have seemed hard to realise a few years ago for the expat football community,” Nick Thompson, the chairman and cofounder of SIAFL, told the Daily.

“About 12 years ago, there was only one expat football team in Shenzhen. As the expatriate community in the city has expanded and with the unremitting effort of people who love the sport, we finally set up the league and hopefully it will develop sustainably and healthily, even when the initiators have left the city,” he said.

Timothy Aldous, a self-employed American businessman who plays for SZ Tigers FC, also shared his thoughts with the Daily.

“When I came to Shenzhen four years ago, I barely knew any people who shared the same interest as me. Football has brought me joy and helped me to get connected with other expats. The league has provided me with the opportunity to meet more people,” Aldous said.

In an official press release back July, SIAFL also talked about sponsorship opportunities for local companies: “Sponsorship of the SIAFL will allow companies to strengthen their identity and to demonstrate their commitment to the growth and development of football in Shenzhen. It provides companies with a clear communication platform from which to articulate its intent and meet its business objectives.

“Local football sponsorship promotes a positive attitude in society. We are looking for help to create a bright and memorable event, which will increase your brand loyalty and create a positive attitude towards your product. It develops a relationship with current and potential customers.”

Guangzhou also has a similar expat football league called The Guangzhou International Football League (GZIFL), which comprises mostly of foreign players. The new season over in Guangzhou will kick off on September 8.

For more information about SIAFL, including a fixtures, news, tables, stats, players, and teams, check out SIAFL’s official website.

Photo credit: SIAFL