The 2016 CEFC China Cup Lujiazui Football League kicked off at Shanghai Yuanshen Sports Center on May 28.

More than 1,200 players across 64 football teams will compete in 512 games through the group and knockout phase this season, which will end Nov 26.

The 2016 CEFC China Cup Lujiazui Football League kicks off at the Shanghai Yuanshen Sports Center on May 28. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Former national women's football team captain Pu Wei and former national men's football team player Sun Ji attended the unveiling ceremony to promote the event. As a local traditional sporting event, Lujiazui Football League creates a platform for white-collar and elite workers to relax after work as well as demonstrate the sports construction of the area.

During the ceremony, Jiang Chunyu, Party secretary of CEFC China, delivered the opening speech and officially announced the beginning of the football season.

Players compete in the first day's game representing their companies. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

CEFC (China CEFC Energy Company Limited), a private collective enterprise with energy and financial services as its core business, has put great effort into football exchange and promotion in recent years. It purchased stock in Czechic Slavia Praha football club to become a shareholder in 2015, and invited Chinese youth athletes to participate in the international football match held in the Czech Republic this year during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

CEFC, as the naming sponsor of the Lujiazui Football League, always strives to promote the development of Chinese youth football and international sports exchange.