A dream beyond the goal

In the 2026 Tongxin Cup Xinjiang Football Super League, the Urumqi team bowed out in the quarterfinals. For goalkeeper Abdulla Abduweli, however, the defeat has done little to dampen his passion for soccer — instead, it has strengthened his long-held dream of stepping onto the pitch in the Chinese Super League.

The 21-year-old Abduweli, a member of the Uygur ethnic group, is a native "Jiang Balang" (a warm local term meaning "young man from Xinjiang"). Born and raised in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, he runs a specialty store named "Jiang Balang" that sells dried fruits and local specialties. Friends and acquaintances affectionately call him Abu.

As a teenager, Abu fell in love with soccer under the influence of his elder brother. He eventually found his place between the posts, where he came to see the goalkeeper as the team's last line of defense — a position that demands composure, concentration and a strong sense of responsibility.

Driven by his love of the game and years of persistent training, Abu progressed from campus soccer to the Xinjiang Football Super League, eventually earning a starting spot as Urumqi's goalkeeper.

In the first leg of this season's Xinjiang Super League knockout stage, Abduweli made several crucial saves to help Urumqi secure a 1-0 victory. In the second leg, the team was knocked out in a penalty shootout.

Abu felt deeply remorseful about the result: "It's such a pity that I couldn't make it to the semifinals with my teammates. I was extremely upset, but the experience also helped me clearly recognize my own shortcomings."

Abu makes no secret of his ambition. Playing in the Chinese Super League has long been his biggest dream. Now, he is using the setback as motivation, working to improve his game and take the next step.

On the green soccer pitch, he is a determined goalkeeper chasing a dream. Away from the game, he is the down-to-earth owner of a dried-fruit store.

Balancing the intensity of competitive soccer with the rhythms of everyday business, this "Jiang Balang" remains firmly focused on the road ahead — with his sights set on the Chinese Super League.