Outstanding young leaders from JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme to visit Manchester United

06/17/2017

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has announced six outstanding young leaders who will travel to England to undergo youth volunteer training and join community activities organised by the Manchester United Foundation. The announcement was made today (17 June) at the graduation ceremony of the fourth Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme. The scheme aims at nurturing the physical, mental and social skills of young people to help them develop their potential as future community leaders. The six were selected on the basis of their outstanding attitude and performance.

The Youth Football Leadership Scheme, organised by the Club in collaboration with Manchester United and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), has recruited 44 young people aged between 15 and 19 from all districts of Hong Kong. The three-month programme combines an elementary football coaching course, life-skills workshops and community services. All of the graduates will be given a three-day exchange tour to Guangzhou. About 150 young people have graduated from the scheme since its launch in 2014.

The Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Communications and Membership, Scarlette Leung encouraged the graduates to reach their full potential and serve the community in the future. “We believe that every young person has the potential to become a leader, given professional guidance and opportunities. Everyone can be a leader, be it in school or in the community. You learn continuously, discover your talent and help build a better community.” Ms Leung added that the training provided valuable opportunities for the graduates, “Whatever the outcome, we hope you will be proud of yourselves for your efforts. You will treasure this experience for the rest of your life.”

The elementary football coaching course was provided by Hong Kong Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School Christopher O’Brien, while the personality and leadership workshops were led by renowned mentors, including world-class boxer Rex Tso, former Head Coach of the Eastern Long Lions Chan Yuen-ting, multi Paralympic gold medallist Yu Chui-yee and multi-media producer and presenter Ng Ka-him.

During the graduation ceremony, winner of the “Best Improvement Award” received a T-shirt, and the winner of the “Leader of the Leaders Award” received a pair of boxing gloves. Both items were autographed by mentor Rex Tso before he locked himself up to prepare for his next bout.

Mr Kazaf Tam, the 4th Vice-Chairman of TWGHs, was also present at the ceremony to congratulate the graduates.

Nicknamed “Iron Woman”, former Hong Kong cyclist Jamie Wong Wan-yiu, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games shared with everyone her  “Never Give Up” spirit. Ms Wong was involved in a major accident at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and she fought the pain to finish the Point Race and won a silver medal.

The Club also announced today the four best performers of the HKJC Soccer 4 –Elite Youth Clinic, held at the Riding High Together Festival earlier this year. They will also travel to England with the six outstanding young leaders.

The ten elite youths mentioned above, comprising seven boys and three girls aged between 11 and 19, will travel to Manchester in England for a one-week community services and exchange programme, which includes participating in local community football activities, visiting the training base, and watching Manchester United play in a Premier League game.

The Club is a long-time supporter of local football development. Since 2012, it has been collaborating with Manchester United to initiate and implement a number of programmes, including the JC Elite Youth Football Camp, the JC School Football Development Scheme, the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme, JC Youth Football Fitness Assessment and the JC Youth Football Skill Challenge with the aim of developing the physical, social and mental development of young people. The Club also supports the Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme, whose summer scheme is the largest summer football programme in Hong Kong. In 2015, the Club announced a donation of approximately HK$120 million to implement the Jockey Club HKFA 5-Year Football Development Programme with the Hong Kong Football Association, which includes futsal and women’s football. The programme aims to promote football development across the community. In terms of football infrastructure, the Club has supported the construction of the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre and the rebuilding of Hong Kong Stadium, providing the ground for Hong Kong’s major domestic and international football matches.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to community betterment. Through its integrated business model of world-class racing, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution, the Club generates substantial economic and social value and assists the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2015/16 the Club donated a record HK$3.9 billion to charity and paid a record HK$20.9 billion in tax. It is Hong Kong’s largest single tax payer and one of the world’s largest charity donors. 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.