Winning members of Shandong Luneng Photo: Courtesy of Changan Ford

A total of 24 young Chinese soccer talents will form a soccer team named Changan Ford Future Star Team and embark on an exchange training program in the UK during the summer of 2015.

The talents were selected from a series of soccer tournaments, called the Future Star Cup, from a partnership between Changan Ford and the Chinese Football Association Super League. The final match of these tournaments was concluded in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province on December 14, 2014.

Changan Ford became the official Premier Partner of the Chinese Super League (CSL) on May 10. This partnership, which lasts from 2014 to 2017, is an extensive cooperation venture focusing on the development and growth of soccer in China.

"The dream of football greatness is deep in the hearts of the Chinese people and the realization of that dream will come from young people," said Marin Burela, president and CEO of Changan Ford Automobile Co Ltd. "Serving the people of China is the mission of Changan Ford and part of our brand promise to 'Go Further.'"

"Supporting the youth of this great nation is a vital part of that mission and the Changan Ford CSL Future Star Cup provides young people with a platform to showcase their talent. It is an important part of our strong and ongoing support for the development of Chinese football and how we give back to the communities where we live and work," Marin Burela noted.

The tournaments were held in six Chinese cities over three months, attracting 2,000 young soccer players from 108 primary and junior high schools.

Players from Beijing Guoan Football Club and Shandong Luneng Taishan Football Club respectively won the championship in the primary school category and the junior high school category.