To further promote local football development, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated over HK$44 million for the establishment of a new youth football training centre at Sha Tin entitled the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre, which is expected to come into operation in 2014.
Today (5 July), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So and Kitchee Foundation Chairman Ken Ng jointly announced that the upcoming match between Kitchee and Arsenal on Sunday 29 July would commemorate the partnership, featuring a trophy named The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Challenge Cup. The game is one of the events to celebrate the HKSAR’s 15th Anniversary
Mr So said the Club was delighted to co-operate with Kitchee Foundation in developing a youth football training centre in Hong Kong, and was honoured that Kitchee had named the trophy for the Arsenal match as The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Challenge Cup. Wishing Kitchee every success in the game, he said he would also cheer for Kitchee Foundation for the swift establishment of the Centre, so to provide a suitable, long-term multi-purpose venue for youth football training.
Responding, Mr Ng said the Kitchee Foundation was extremely pleased to secure this partnership with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and pledged that Kitchee was totally committed to making the project a showcase of success for the future of Hong Kong football. The proposed Centre would house the Kitchee-Escola programme as well as providing free-of-charge elite football training to boys aged between 6 and 12, three times a week, all year round.
Kitchee currently employ two full-time Technical Directors of Youth Development who formerly worked with FC Barcelona to ensure the world-class quality of the curriculum. The Centre will also provide the facilities for the Education Bureau-approved Professional Footballer Preparatory Programme at the Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School. These programmes are open to all Hong Kong young people during their football-formative years with no restrictions on their affiliation with teams, clubs or districts.
Chairman of The Hong Kong Football Association Brian Leung congratulated the Jockey Club and Kitchee on the new partnership, saying he expected that the Centre would generate better players for Hong Kong in the future. He also praised the Jockey Club for its contribution to football development in Hong Kong.
The Trust donation will cover approximately 90% of the costs of setting up the HK$49 million Centre, with the remaining 10% to be raised by Kitchee Foundation. Kitchee has also announced that the surplus generated from the game with Arsenal and the gala dinner will be donated to the Kitchee Foundation for the Centre’s development.
The Club has been a staunch supporter of local football development over the years, and is currently funding a three-year Jockey Club Youth Football Development Programme, providing football training to more than 9,000 young people from across the city's 18 districts. The Club is also collaborating with Manchester United (MU) to run a three-year training programme, the Jockey Club Elite Youth Football Camp, in which 64 elite young football players will be selected each year from various districts and First Division clubs to undergo training from the MU Soccer School. The two best-performing young players will be offered the chance to join the MU academy training camp for a week in the United Kingdom.
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.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So says the Club is delighted to co-operate with Kitchee Foundation in developing a youth football training centre in Hong Kong, and is honoured that Kitchee has named the trophy for the Arsenal match as The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Challenge Cup.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (2nd left); Kitchee Foundation Chairman Ken Ng (1st left); Executive Committee Member Stuart Fraser (2nd right) and Hong Kong Football Association Chairman Brian Leung (1st right) at the press conference.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (back row, 8th left); Kitchee Foundation Chairman Ken Ng (back row, 6th left); Hong Kong Football Association Chairman Brian Leung (back row, centre) and The Kitchee-Escola Parents Association Chairman Dr Philip Poon (back row, 4th left) with Kitchee Foundation Executive Committee members; Kitchee footballers; students of the Kitchee-Escola and other guests.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So and students of the Kitchee-Escola.
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Artist impression of Jockey Club Kitchee Centre.
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