One team that has caught attention at the Garuda International Cup (GIC) 2024 is Guangzhou FC.
This Chinese club is participating in GIC for the first time. Not only is it their debut, but some of their players are also competing in an international tournament for the first time.
Interesting stories have emerged from the players. One of them is the main goalkeeper of Guangzhou FC, Fan Mengtong. He noted that the weather in Indonesia is cool, especially compared to the hot weather in China.
“The weather here is honestly cooler because the summer in China is too hot. I am also happy to be part of this tournament,” Fan Mengtong told the media at ASIOP Training Ground (ATG), Sentul, on Saturday (24/8).
“This is my first time participating in a competition abroad, and the football atmosphere here is very different from China,” he added.
Another interesting story comes from Guangzhou FC’s left-back, Chi Weilin. He has tried Indonesian cuisine for the first time.
“This is my first time in Indonesia, adjusting to the environment and cultural style. As for the food here, I had never tried any of it before,” said Chi Weilin.
Meanwhile, Guo Wuyue shared, “This is my first time joining a football tournament abroad, experiencing the local atmosphere, and adapting to the weather differences between China and Indonesia.”
GIC 2024 is held at ASIOP Training Ground, Sentul, West Java, from August 22-25, 2024. There are 48 teams from eight countries: Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Singapore, competing in three age groups: U-10, U-12, and U-17.
This year, the Garuda International Cup is again carrying the tagline ‘The Season is Coming, Let’s Have Fun,’ meaning the tournament not only features matches but also provides an outstanding sportainment atmosphere for players and spectators at ASIOP Training Ground, Sentul.
The venue includes Sompo Arena, which offers exciting and engaging games. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of food and beverages available at the bazaars, and will be entertained by various exciting performances. Additionally, the GIC 2024 event will also feature a dance competition for high schools and a Mobile Legends tournament.