Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team sets off for the China Champions League, with Evergrande Football School youngsters aiming for China Second League.

Reported by journalist Wang Wei On April 20, the Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team, fully operated by Evergrande Football School, held a departure ceremony in Qingyuan, preparing to compete in the Yingde division matches of the China Champions League regional tournament starting June 1. This team, which has attracted much attention from Guangdong fans, also hopes to quickly advance to the China Second League and enter the professional football sequence.

In March 2026, the Chinese Football Association announced the list for the 2026 season China Champions League, with the Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team formed by Evergrande Football School included, obtaining qualification for the 2026 China Champions League. This move was seen by the public as the first return of a team carrying the most Chinese football honors and memories to the national competition system under a new entity since the dissolution of the original Guangzhou Team in 2025. The club completed its business registration in early 2026, is fully operated by Evergrande Football School, legally has no connection with the original Guangzhou Team, and does not bear its historical debts or contractual obligations.

The Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team is based on the U17 national championship squad, with the coaching team consisting of the original staff from the football school, forming a rare example in Chinese football of a "pure self-trained youth team" aiming for professional leagues. The team includes outstanding young players such as Zhang Congxi and Wang Weixuan, who have been selected for the national youth team, along with adult players like Yang Changpeng, Ju Feng, and Li Bin joining the team.

At the departure ceremony for the Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team, head coach Sasha Milemovic stated that the team's goal this year is to strive wholeheartedly for promotion to the Second League, and he will lead these young players to challenge the professional leagues. Player Ju Feng said: "We will give our all and strive together to advance to higher-level leagues."

At the departure ceremony, the 2026 season China Champions League home and away kits, goalkeeper uniforms, and training attire for the Guangdong Morning Star Chuangerte Team were officially unveiled. The players appeared wearing the new battle robes; the home kit color scheme "Southern Guangdong Crimson Flame" is red like a torch, carrying the pride of Southern Guangdong, while the away kit color scheme "Lingnan Cloud White" is pure and clean like clouds, highlighting the youth's essence.

Then, witnessed by Guangdong Provincial Football Association President Xie Changjing, Guangdong Football Sports Center Director Luo Dongbin, as well as Gao Lin, Zeng Cheng, and Feng Junyan, Evergrande Football School Chairman Kang Bing solemnly presented the battle flag to team captain Zhang Congxi. Subsequently, the battle flag was raised high, and the departure call for this youth army was sounded at this moment. At the departure ceremony, the club announced that the local Guangdong enterprise Chuangerte Kitchen Appliances would sponsor the team, providing support for the team's development and progress.

Evergrande Football School Principal Li Benquan said: "The four words 'Morning Star Gathering Strength' carry our original intention and expectations: Morning Star is the dawn light, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the future; Gathering Strength is unity of all, concentrating power and embarking on the journey together. This team is based on outstanding young players from the football school, combined with former players who already have professional experience, forming a lineup where veterans guide newcomers and newcomers promote growth. The club's core mission is to connect suitable-age players from the football school and open up growth and promotion channels, focusing on building an integrated training system of youth training + professional, helping players accumulate experience and grow quickly in the professional arena, and cultivating more outstanding football talents for Guangdong football and Chinese football." He also explained the club's original mission and the team's core characteristics of "youth army, technical style, spirit," clarified the team's iron discipline rules of "six musts, six prohibitions," and stated the goal for the 2026 season China Champions League is: give all efforts, aim for the China Second League.

"First, hope the team does not forget its original intention, dare to venture and fight; second, hope the team strictly adheres to competition discipline and displays its style; third, hope the team unites hearts and strength and courageously achieves excellent results." At the ceremony site, Guangdong Provincial Football Association President Xie Changjing proposed three hopes and said: "Although the Guangdong Morning Star Gathering Strength Club was established only three months ago, it has already attracted much attention and expectation from all sectors. The team's roster structure is complete and clearly layered, including both vibrant young rising stars, gradually experienced core forces, and steady, seasoned veteran players. The combination of new and old, veterans guiding newcomers, passing on the torch, not only inherits the fine tradition of Southern football's technical refinement but also shows the youthful sharpness of daring to venture and fight, which is precisely the key for the team to progress steadily and establish itself long-term."