China's Football Mania team has finished their Manchester City tour by playing a friendly match against the English Premier League giant's under-18 squad at their iconic acedemy ground.
The amateur side was overpowered, as expected, but their capatin Xu Zheng, admitted that they have learned a lot from their rivals, many of whom are expected to become future stars in the world's best professional football league.
"We are all from grassroots level and the team has never had professional training," Xu said. "But we have learned a lot. Manchester City is one of world's best teams. Everthing here is world class, the players, the facilities and their training method. The visit has really helped us see a real football world."
The Footbal Mania players were slected from thousands of voluteers all around China through the first football-focused reality TV series made by Camsing Global and South China's Guangdong TV.
They started from nothing and underwent a training program en ruote to the match.
With the aim of enhancing China's passion for football, the program began filming in January 2017, with broadcast scheduled for April.
Charting the ups and downs of this amateur team, viewers will get to know the different personalities within the team as they chase their dream and get to grips with the demands of professional football.
Seeking to capitalise on football's status as the most popular sport in China, Football Mania aims to highlight the importance of football development within the country and can count on the support of former Blue and Club Ambassador Sun Jihai.
Mi Na, Chairman of Zhong An Holdings Limited (ZAH), Manchester City's official partner in China, who made the visit possible, said the program will futher delevop Manchester City's fanbase and presence in China.
"Zhong An Holdings is excited to be cooperating even more closely together in the future, both to secure new opportunities and deliver domestic market requirements, ensuring Manchester City continues to be amongst the most successful sporting organisations operating in China."
Fooball Mania will be broadcast across the country on more than 30 platforms.
