The Hong Kong Jockey Club is taking steps to raise the standards of youth football in Hong Kong. Through HK$11 million funding from its Charities Trust, the Club will collaborate with world-class football club Manchester United (MU) to launch a three-year training programme entitled Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp.
Today (12 June), Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges announced the programme details at a press conference in company with Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke and Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) Chairman Brian Leung.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said that the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp was a new milestone of the development of football in Hong Kong and the Club was very excited to have two world-class organisations coming together, namely Manchester United and the Jockey Club which stood for world-class sport and world-class racing.
“In the coming three years, we will collaborate with the HKFA and Manchester United, who will bring their international expertise in youth football development to Hong Kong to set a new standard of football training here. This is a unique chance and an aspiration of a dream come true for our young football players and we are very happy that we can facilitate that.
We are committed to the development of football in HK and are as keen as ever to realise the establishment of the Football Academy. We have earmarked a significant amount of money for the Football Academy. But apart from the hardware, we also need good and sustainable software programmes to facilitate the development of football in HK.”
Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke said he was very pleased to have been invited to the launch of Manchester United’s partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “Development of youth football is an important part of the sport and I am delighted to support The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s commitment to bring football into the community,” he commented. “Through its work with Manchester United Soccer Schools I am sure they will be inspiring Asia’s next top flight player.”
Announcing the project, Commercial Director Richard Arnold said, “We know from our fan base research that Hong Kong is a hotbed of Manchester United support, with millions of fans. A partnership with The Hong Kong Jockey Club will raise the profile of the great work that the club does in the country, as well as highlighting the importance of Hong Kong in our plans to try better to connect with our 325 million fans across Asia.”
In the coming three years, 64 elite young football players will be selected each year from various districts and first division clubs, providing them with a two-week training camp hosted by coaches from the Manchester United Soccer School. The two best-performing young players will then be offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Manchester United academy training camp for a week in the United Kingdom. This year’s camp will take place between 16 and 27 July.
By allowing local trainers to witness the camp training, the project can bring world class standards and long-lasting direct benefits to Hong Kong’s football community as a whole. It also complements the recently-announced three-year Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme that the Club is running in partnership with the Football Association and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to promote football amongst the city’s younger generation.
Link to Manchester United official promotion video by Sir Alex Ferguson
The Club has been a staunch supporter of sports development in Hong Kong over the years, having funded infrastructure developments like the Hong Kong Sports Institute, the new Hong Kong Stadium, the Hong Kong Jockey Club International BMX Park and The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course. It has also made outstanding contributions to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian Events, 2009 East Asian Games, the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games Equestrian Events and the 3rd Hong Kong Games, as well as the newly added futsal competition.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.6 billion in 2011. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$15 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.
Attachment:
Factsheet of Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp
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Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp is a new milestone of the development of football in Hong Kong and the Club is very excited to have two world-class organisations coming together.
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Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke (left) and Hong Kong Football Association Chairman Brian Leung (right) sign on the MU football.
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Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) and Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke (left) exchange jerseys, symbolising the partnership between the Club and MU.
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Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke (centre) with four local young players Tsang Kam-to (1st left), Lau Cheuk-hin (2nd left), Chan Pak-hang (2nd right) and Ngan Lok-fung (1st right).
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Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (back row, 2nd left), Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (back row, 1st left); Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke (back row, 2nd right); Hong Kong Football Association Chairman Brian Leung (back row, 1st right) and four local young players.
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