Yunnan Hongta Football Club

Yunnan Hongta (Simplified Chinese: 云南红塔) was a football club who played in the Chinese Jia-A League who were founded by the Shenzhen Kinspar Group in 1996 and named Shenzhen Kinspar (Simplified Chinese: 深圳金鹏). The club predominantly played within the lower leagues until they were sold to the Yunnan Hongta Group, a tobacco producer who renamed the team Yunnan Hongta and moved the club to Kunming to play in the Tuodong Stadium. Yunnan Hongta would win promotion to the Chinese Jia-A League in the 1999 league season where they remained until Chongqing Lifan bought then merged the teams in 2003.

History

Early club era

Founded as Shenzhen Kinspar (or Shenzhen Jinpeng, Simplified Chinese: 深圳金鹏) by the Shenzhen Kinspar Group in 1996, the club won the membership of the second division (Chinese Football Association Jia League Group B) by defeating Xiamen in the final of the third and the lowest division Chinese Football Association Yi League. In the following year, Shenzhen Kinspar lost the bid to the championship and sold the club to Yunnan Hongta Group, a tobacco producer. The team was renamed Yunnan Hongta. They played in Tuodong Stadium.

Yunnan Hongta made huge investment in the club. First, Qi Wusheng, who failed to lead China to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup was introduced in 1999. Next, the club bought a lot of young players from the upper division (Group A). Under Qi Wusheng the team won the runner up position of Group B and was promoted to Group A.

In the next year, Ou Chuliang, the goalkeeper of the national team, was transferred from Shanghai Shenhua. Qi Wusheng’s coaching in the national team made the team attractive to many national footballers. In 2002, another national team regular player Wei Qun followed Ou Chuliang and joined the team.

After settled down in Group A, Yunnan Hongta began to chase the championship in 2002. However, despite of leading in the first half, they end up with the seventh. In the same year, they hosted Real Madrid during their offseason.

Merger with Chongqing Lifan F.C.

After ranked the seventh in the following year, the Yunnan Hongta Group lost the patience for the national title and sold the team to the relegated Chongqing Lifan. The merger ended Yunnan Hongta’s hope of championship. Without the huge investment from the Yunnan Hongta Group, the new team end with the last spot in two years.

The reserve team of Yunnan Hongta was not sold, however. They formed a new club named Lijiang Dongba and had played in the China League Two for three seasons.

Yunnan Hongta Football Club (云南红塔足球俱乐部) is a professional football club based in Kunming, Yunnan, China. The club has a rich history of progress and challenges in Chinese football, initially founded as Shenzhen Jinpeng in 1996. Over the years, it has grown to become one of the most recognized names in Yunnan’s sporting scene.

Club History and Background

Formation and Early Years

In 1996, Shenzhen Jinpeng Football Club was established and quickly made its way into the China League B (甲B联赛). After just one season, the club was sold and relocated to Kunming, Yunnan, in 1997. It was rebranded as Yunnan Hongta Football Club and became the first professional football team in Yunnan Province. The club’s entry into the professional leagues marked the beginning of a new chapter for football in the region.

Progress and Success

Yunnan Hongta participated in the China League B (甲B联赛) in 1998 and went on to play in the China Jia A League (甲A联赛) starting in 2000. The club’s best achievement in the Jia A League came in 2003, during the final season of the Jia A League before it was replaced by the Chinese Super League (中超). That year, the team finished a solid 7th place, a commendable result considering the competition.

However, at the end of 2003, Yunnan Hongta’s qualification for the Chinese Super League was sold to the Chongqing Lifan Football Club (重庆力帆), which had been relegated that year.

Key Figures and Leadership

In its early years, the club experienced significant leadership changes. Initially, Zhou Suian (周穗安) and Wang Baoshan (王宝山) served as the head coaches. However, it was the appointment of Qi Wusheng (戚务生), former coach of the Chinese national team, in 1999 that brought about a turnaround in the club’s fortunes. Under Qi’s leadership, Yunnan Hongta secured promotion to the China Jia A League (甲A联赛) in 1999, igniting a football revolution in Yunnan Province.

Club’s Mission

Yunnan Hongta Football Club was founded with a dual purpose: to promote the province of Yunnan and contribute to the country’s football development. It also served as a social responsibility project by the Hongta Group, aiming to give back to society through the medium of sport.

Key Information

Club Name

• Chinese Name : 云南红塔足球俱乐部

• English Name: Yunnan Hongta Football Club

Foundation Year 

• 1996 (Original as Shenzhen Jinpeng, relocated and renamed in 1997)

Location 

• Kunming, Yunnan (昆明, 云南)

Sport 

• Football

Home Stadium 

• Stadium Name: Tuodong Sports Stadium (拓东体育场), Kunming

• Seating Capacity: 40,000

Head Coach 

• Qi Wusheng (戚务生), served as head coach from the second half of 1998 to the end of 2003.

Notable Figures 

• Qi Wusheng (戚务生) – Former National Team Coach and Yunnan Hongta Head Coach.

• Ou Chuliang (区楚良) – Renowned goalkeeper and key player in the club’s history.

Major Achievements 

• 1999: China League B (甲B联赛) Runner-up (亚军), which earned the club promotion to the China Jia A League (甲A联赛).

Contact Information

• Address :
  Hongta Sports Center, Hai Gong Tourist Resort, Group 1 (海埂旅游度假区一组团红塔体育中心), Kunming, Yunnan

• Postal Code : 650034

• Phone Number : 0871-4310315

• Official Website : Yunnan Hongta FC Website

Club Structure and Operations

Governance and Management

Yunnan Hongta Football Club operates under the oversight of the Chinese Football Association (中国足协) and the Yunnan Province Football Association (云南省足协). Additionally, the Kunming City Football Management Center (昆明市足管中心) is responsible for managing local football affairs. The club follows the rules and regulations set by these bodies and is an independent legal entity with economic standing.

Mission and Social Responsibility

The club was created not only to promote football in Yunnan but also to increase the province’s global recognition. Through their participation in the professional football league system, Yunnan Hongta has contributed to the province’s social and cultural development. This goal has been closely tied to the Hongta Group’s corporate philosophy of giving back to the community and encouraging the advancement of football in China.

Members Info of  Yunnan Hongta Football Club