Pingtan, a coastal island in Fujian Province known for its distinctive maritime charm and thriving cultural and sports scene, has welcomed a passionate young football player from Xizang as part of its local team for the Fujian Football City League (FJCL). Dawa Zhaxi, a senior at Fujian Polytechnic of Information Technology—based in Pingtan—is set to graduate soon and return to Xizang for an internship. Currently training with the Pingtan FJCL team, he regards this opportunity as both a delightful surprise and a fitting finale to his college football journey.

Dawa Zhaxi's passion for football took root when he was nine years old in his hometown in Xizang. Back then, he played in a large yard—nearly the size of a standard football pitch—without any professional training or tactical guidance. His first football gear—a ball and a pair of vintage football boots—was a gift from a local farm owner, a memento he still treasures at home. Driven purely by love for the sport, he honed his skills by learning from amateur coaches and fellow players in his early years.

Transitioning from the high-altitude terrain of Xizang to the coastal city of Pingtan, Dawa Zhaxi quickly noticed a striking contrast in the playing conditions. "The air in Xizang is thin and dry," he explained. "When I run hard, I struggle to catch my breath, and after long sprints, I even taste a metallic tang in my mouth—it's really challenging for my body. But Pingtan's moist air makes running so much more comfortable; I can sprint freely and play to my heart's desire." Over his three years studying in Fujian, football has been his most reliable companion: he played on campus, joined casual local matches off-campus, and even spent entire days practicing dribbling and passing alone on the pitch, finding immense joy in the sport.

Dawa Zhaxi's football journey has been far from smooth. After graduating from junior high school, he suffered a severe calf injury during a football tryout, an accident that made him miss nearly all football activities throughout his high school years. Watching others play from the sidelines during that difficult period only deepened his appreciation for every chance to step onto the pitch. It was not until he entered university, fully recovered, that he rekindled his love for football and returned to being the relentless player he once was on the green field.

As his college life draws to a close, Dawa Zhaxi hopes to leave a lasting impression through his efforts on the FJCL pitch. "I've lived in Pingtan for three years, and this island has given me so much warmth," he said. "I just want to play football well and leave a mark of my youth here with every run and drop of sweat." For Dawa Zhaxi, football is more than a passing hobby—it is a deep-seated commitment and a burning dream that transcends mountains and seas.