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Manchester United Academy U16 squad round off fruitful visit to Hong Kong

08/20/2017

The JC Youth Football Academy Summit, a pioneering, week-long collaboration between The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Manchester United and the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) came to a successful close today (20 August). The Summit saw Manchester United Academy under-16 squad to join a wide ranging programme of football and cultural activities. Organisers from both cities felt the Summit had widened the horizons of the young participants.
 
Highlights of the week were two friendly matches played by the Manchester United U16s against a Hong Kong District All-Stars team and the HKFA U17 Academy team. The games not only attracted more than 2,000 spectators but were also live-cast online.
 
During the week, the District All-Stars and HKFA teams also seized the opportunity to train with the Manchester United Academy players and get a taste of their world renowned youth training methods.
 
Former Manchester United star Nicky Butt, a graduate of the Academy himself and now its Head, also joined the Summit. He expressed his thanks to the Club for its efforts in organising the Summit, saying it reflected the two parties' shared belief that widening the horizons of young people was essential to their all-round development.
 
To enhance their experience of the visit, the young United squad joined various cultural activities with their local counterparts throughout the week. These included sightseeing tours to Stanley, The Peak and Victoria Harbour, as well as the chance to learn Chinese martial arts and traditional lion dancing from two-time martial arts World Champion Marvel Chow. They even had a try at making Chinese dumplings with the local youth players. All these activities helped strengthen their appreciation of each other’s cultures and their respect for diversity.
 
Since last year, senior coaches from the Manchester United Academy have been visiting Hong Kong from time to time to conduct seminars and workshops for local coaches. A number of similar workshops were arranged during the Summit. The United coaches, including Nicky Butt, conducted two workshops with the District All-Stars coaches and HKFA registered coaches, thus not only benefiting the local young players but also contributing to local football development as a whole.
 
The Club has been a long-time supporter of local football development. In particular, it has collaborated with Manchester United since 2012 on a number of programmes designed to develop the physical, mental and social capabilities of young people.  These include the JC Elite Youth Football Camp, the JC School Football Development Scheme, the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme, the JC Youth Football Fitness Assessment and the JC Youth Soccer Skills Challenge.
 
The Club also supports the Jockey Club Youth Football Development Scheme, whose summer scheme is the largest such programme in Hong Kong. In 2015, the Club announced a HK$120 million donation to support the Jockey Club HKFA 5-Year Football Development Programme, which is aimed at promoting football across the community, including futsal and women’s football. In terms of infrastructure, the Club has supported the construction of the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre and the rebuilding of Hong Kong Stadium as a home for Hong Kong’s major domestic and international football games.
 
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combating 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 taxpayer, one of the city’s major employers and one of the world's top ten charity donors.  The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong. 

Guests pose for a photo with the young players before the friendly match. (19 August)
Guests pose for a photo with the young players before the friendly match. (19 August)

Manchester United Academy U16 team plays a friendly match with the HKFA U17 Academy team at Tsing Yi Sports Ground. (19 August)
Manchester United Academy U16 team plays a friendly match with the HKFA U17 Academy team at Tsing Yi Sports Ground. (19 August)

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) and Head of Manchester United Academy Nicky Butt (left) present the Outstanding Performance Award to the captain of HKFA U17 Academy team Sun Ming-him (centre). (19 August)
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) and Head of Manchester United Academy Nicky Butt (left) present the Outstanding Performance Award to the captain of HKFA U17 Academy team Sun Ming-him (centre). (19 August)

The District All-Stars team trains with Manchester Uniteda£á?s Academy U16 team at the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre. (15 August)
The District All-Stars team trains with Manchester Uniteda£á?s Academy U16 team at the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre. (15 August)

Photo 5 and 6: Manchester United Academy U16 team makes Chinese dumplings with some of the young local players. (16 August)
Photo 5 and 6: Manchester United Academy U16 team makes Chinese dumplings with some of the young local players. (16 August)


Photo 7 and 8: Manchester United Academy U16 players learn Chinese martial arts and traditional lion dancing from two-time martial arts World Champion Marvel Chow. (17 August)
Photo 7 and 8: Manchester United Academy U16 players learn Chinese martial arts and traditional lion dancing from two-time martial arts World Champion Marvel Chow. (17 August)


Photo 9 and 10: The young United squad join various cultural activities with their local counterparts throughout the week, including sightseeing.
Photo 9 and 10: The young United squad join various cultural activities with their local counterparts throughout the week, including sightseeing.


Senior coaches from Manchester United Academy, including Academy Head Nicky Butt, share their experience with HKFA registered coaches in a workshop (18 August)
Senior coaches from Manchester United Academy, including Academy Head Nicky Butt, share their experience with HKFA registered coaches in a workshop (18 August)

Head of Manchester United Academy Nicky Butt meets the media and thanks the Club for organising the summit. (19 August)
Head of Manchester United Academy Nicky Butt meets the media and thanks the Club for organising the summit. (19 August)

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