Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp begins today

07/14/2014

This year 68 talented young footballers have joined the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp, 34 boys from the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) Academy U13 squad and 34 HKFA Academy girls aged 13-19.  They gathered at the Happy Valley Infield Artificial Football Pitch today (14 July) for a two-week training programme under four coaches from the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS).  All participants will also undergo the fitness assessment, enabling them to discover their athletic potential. 

The Club’s Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Director Scarlette Leung officiated at today’s opening ceremony with Manchester United legend Ronny Johnsen and HKFA Acting Head of Football Development Paul Woodland.

Ms Leung said the partnership between the Club and Manchester United went hand in hand with the Club’s strategy for ongoing support to the development of football from the grass-roots to elite levels.  “The two-week training camp reflects the Club’s commitment to contributing to youth development in Hong Kong and associating the Club’s sporting strategies with world-class partners,” she explained.

Funded by an HK$11 million donation from the Club’s Charities Trust in 2012, the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp is now in its third year. Each year, the Camp provides two weeks of intensive training to talented young footballers, with the two most outstanding players selected to join Manchester United’s academy training camp for a week in the United Kingdom. 

The camp training helps not only bring world-class standards and long-lasting direct benefits to Hong Kong’s football community as a whole, but also promote football amongst the city’s younger generation.

The MUSS coaches at this year’s training camp are Christopher O’Brien, Kevin O’Connell, Michelle Wilcock and Jonathan Robinson.  Details of the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp are available at 203.215.253.53/youthfootball.

The Club has long been a staunch supporter of local football development, contributing over HK$170 million in recent years. Examples include funding the construction of the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre in Shek Mun, Sha Tin; supporting HKFA to organise the Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme, and AFC U-14 Championship 2014-Qualifiers (Group H) Competition in Hong Kong.

The Club is collaborating with Manchester United to run other football-related programmes including the Jockey Club Youth Football Fitness Assessment and the Jockey Club School Football Development Scheme, aimed at bringing together overseas and local professionals in football training and sports science, to provide chances for young players to reach their full potential. Another initiative, the Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme is designed to boost young people’s organisational and leadership skills and nurture future young community leaders.

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 Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 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. 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.

Attachments:

1. Fact Sheet of Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp
2. Brief bios of the coaches