José, a former professional football player from Brazil, has found a new home and mission in Zhuhai, Guangdong. Now the founder of a thriving football club with over 200 young athletes, he proudly says, ''Zhuhai is a fantastic place!''

His connection with China started in childhood through Bruce Lee movies, but it was football that eventually brought him there. After a career that took him from Brazil to Hong Kong and Macao, injuries pushed him into coaching.

The rapid growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has created new opportunities. In 2015, he entered the Chinese mainland market as a technical consultant and later founded his own football club in Zhuhai in 2023, which now has over 200 students and ranks as one of the largest youth football training centers in the city.

José's approach goes beyond teaching skills. He emphasizes character, respect, and the joy of football — all delivered in English, offering students a distinctive dual learning experience. He also waives fees for students from underprivileged backgrounds, some of whom have trained with him free of charge for seven years. His confidence in their potential matches his faith in Chinese football.

Under his guidance, students have developed both as players and individuals. One exceptional talent, who recently trained in Brazil, demonstrates significant potential for a professional career.

With a new pitch and a nutrition-focused café opening soon, José keeps investing in Zhuhai's youth. ''What matters most is that children learn to enjoy football,'' he said — a philosophy that echoes his own journey of resilience and passion.

José in his JF Football Club. [Photo/Zhuhai foreign affairs office]