Behram Abduweli plays as a member of the Chinese Olympic soccer team in 2023. Photos: VCG
An impressive season in China's second-tier league has not only earned 20-year-old Behram Abduweli a chance to play in the top flight this season, but also won the prestigious Chinese Youth Footballer of the Year award.
Now preparing for his new season of the Chinese Super League (CSL) with his club Shenzhen Peng City, Behram, though acknowledging the challenges ahead, has kept his objective for the season very simple: to score more goals.
"My imminent plan is very simple, to prepare for the Chinese Super League season," Behram told the Global Times after winning the youth award. "I hope I can score more goals this season, but I won't give myself too much pressure."
Behram scored five goals in League One last season for Sichuan Jiuniu before the club was promoted to the CSL and relocated to Shenzhen.
"The award is the result of my efforts throughout 2023, and it serves as both recognition and motivation for me," he said.
Now Behram stands at a height of 1.88 meters, so many have pinned their hopes that he is capable of scoring in double digits.
Family support
Behind every successful athlete lies a strong support system, and for Behram, that support came from his family.
Born in 2003 in Yili in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and grew up in a modest household, Behram's soccer dream was nurtured by the unwavering belief of his brother and the sage advice of his grandfather.
"My family has always been my rock," he said. "Their sacrifices and encouragement have been the driving force behind my journey."
Behram's ascent to prominence began at the tender age of 15 when he caught the eye of scouts from a club of North China's Inner Mongolia Autumous Region. But it is his brother's sacrifice that made Behram's quest in soccer possible.
His elder brother had to forsake his soccer dream to support Behram, as the financial support comes only from the pension from their grandpa. Local media reported that the brothers' parents passed away during their childhoods.
Behram's raw talent and natural flair for the game quickly became evident due to his prolific performances in several domestic competitions, paving the way for his remarkable transfer to Chinese Super League giants Shandong Taishan in 2021.
Soccer player Behram Abduweli Photo:VCG
Honing skills
Representing Taishan to participate in the Asian Champions League in the 2022 season was an early highlight of Behram's career as his performance as a forward in the matches had won applause for his age.
However, due to the strong competition for the striker position in the team, Behram was loaned to then China League Two club Jinan Xingzhou that season.
After Xingzhou's promotion to League One, Behram was loaned again to another League One team Jiuniu to continue to gain match experience.
When asked about his proudest moment in soccer, Behram recalled the euphoria of lifting the League One trophy with Jiuniu.
"It was a moment of pure joy, a culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice," he said. "I had never dreamed of achieving this, considering I won the League Two title just a season earlier."
It is the experience with Jiuniu where Behrsam's contribution of five goals to the club's promotion to the CSL that earned him a berth to represent China on the international stage, where Behram's star truly began to shine.
Representing China with pride and passion, Behram etched his name in Chinese soccer history, as his performances in the AFC under-20 Asian Cup, wearing the iconic No.9 jersey, captured the hearts of fans nationwide.
"There is still room for improvement in me, both technically and physically. And I think I still need to gain more match experience," Behram told the Global Times.
However, injury has thwarted Behram's further appearances at the national under-20 and under-23 teams.
As Behram has permanently transferred to Shenzhen ahead of the start of the new CSL season, many Shandong fans are bemoaning the Taishan club for releasing such talent to an opponent.
Eyeing EuropeLooking ahead, Behram's ambitions know no bounds. With a steely determination and a hunger for success, he dreams of plying his trade in the hallowed stadiums of Europe's top leagues.
"My ultimate goal is to compete in the top-tier leagues in Europe," he revealed, acknowledging it is extremely challenging to appear in the European leagues as a foreign striker due to the intense competition for the job.
He has set his sights on the English Premier League, taking Manchester City as his goal, a club that is affiliated with the City Football Group which also owns his current club Shenzhen Peng City.
Beyond the soccer pitch, Behram is a man of simple pleasures.
When he's not honing his skills on the training ground, you'll often find him unwinding with a game of snooker, a sport that he believes shares parallels with soccer in its strategic intricacies.
"It is more about strategy when playing snooker," Behram said. "You have to think about how your opponent plays and defends. There's a bit of similarity with soccer too, you think about how your opponent attacks you, and then you counterattack."
As Behram continues to chase his dreams, his story is an inspiration to athletes everywhere. But for Behram, the journey is just a beginning, and the best is yet to come.
"Wherever my journey takes me, I am committed to giving my all and making my family proud," Behram said.
