Next phase of The Jockey Club Football Leadership Scheme is set to nurture the talent of youth across all 18 districts in Hong Kong

03/12/2015

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a staunch supporter of youth development in the city, announced today (12 March) a new phase of the Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme. This will see the scheme expanded from last year’s pilot project in three districts to a territory-wide scheme in 2015, giving young people in all 18 districts many more opportunities to benefit. Former Hong Kong Olympic swimmer Alex Fong will be joining the scheme as a mentor this year. Together with Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai-shan, renowned media presenter Lawrence Cheng Dan-shui, Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) in Hong Kong Christopher O’Brien and a team of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) social workers, Fong will help nurture future leaders through football and leadership training.

At the press conference Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said that it has been the Club’s long-standing commitment to support youth and sports development. The aim of the project is to use football as a mean to develop the leadership and social skills of young people. “Through the guidance of role models, they learn how to take command of their own lives and see the benefits of taking a proactive role in the community.” 

At today’s ceremony, outstanding participants from last year were appointed as senior leaders for the upcoming scheme, with the aim of encouraging them to continue contributing to the community and developing their leadership potential.

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said that the scheme has proven a success and made a very positive difference to those taking part.  For example, one outstanding participant from last year is now coaching a youth football team in Tuen Mun. Another is pursuing further studies with a view to becoming a professional coach.

Also at the press conference was Ivan Yiu, Community Services Secretary of TWGHs. “The programme represents a long-standing partnership between two of the oldest charitable organisations in Hong Kong. It is a pleasure to see that some of the youth leaders trained up last year are still actively engaging themselves in district and community services.” said Mr Yiu.

Recruitment of young people for the new phase of the scheme is now open until March 17. After a selection interview, 45 recruits will join a four-month programme running from April to August. This will include a series of leadership workshops conducted by a professional trainer in collaboration with scheme mentors Lee Lai-shan, Lawrence Cheng and Alex Fong. Christopher O’Brien will also conduct an elementary football coaching course. Participants will have the chance to apply their leadership skills through a series of community and football projects.

The Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme, one of four Club initiatives in collaboration with Manchester United Football Club, is being co-organised with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education at Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Lobo Louie, is also contributing his professional insight as an advisor.
Outstanding participants will be awarded with a trip to Manchester in England where they will take part in local community programmes and visit Manchester United.  

During the past three years, the Club has been working closely with Manchester United to promote football development in Hong Kong. Besides the Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme, the Club has collaborated on three other programmes. These include The Jockey Club Elite Football Camp, which has so far given over 180 local players the chance to receive world-class training; The Jockey Club Youth Football Fitness Assessment - Hong Kong’s first football fitness database of youth players – which will be unveiling its latest research findings in the near future; and The Jockey Club School Football Development Scheme. The latter has not only brought international football coaching standards to Hong Kong schools, but has also enabled students from different social strata across the city to benefit from the professional training and the positive learning environment provided by Manchester United Soccer School.

In the Community Festival scheduled for April, a highlight of the Jockey Club’s 130th anniversary, the Club will stage a Youth Football Skill Challenge with Manchester United Soccer School for children born in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club 
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit 130.hkjc.com.