Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme launched to nurture future leaders

04/07/2014

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has long been a staunch supporter of the growth and development of young people in the city.  As a further step to help those with talent achieve their full potential, the Club today (7 April) announced the latest initiative in its successful collaboration with internationally-renowned football club Manchester United,  the Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme.  Under this scheme, in which the Club will also collaborate with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), football training and personality workshops will be organised to boost young people’s organisational and leadership skills, nurturing future young community leaders.

Iconic figures from various sectors have been invited to be mentors of the scheme, namely Olympic gold medallist Lee Lai-shan, renowned media presenter and performer Lawrence Cheng Dan-shui and Hong Kong Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School Christopher O’Brien. In addition, Dr Lobo Louie, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education at Hong Kong Baptist University, will contribute his professional insights as an advisor.

Speaking at today’s launch, the Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said participating in sport could be hugely beneficial to young people’s personal development and the Club was very pleased to be able to launch a unique new scheme. “Building on our experience in funding and developing a series of youth football training initiatives in the past two years, the Jockey Club is introducing a new programme focusing on youth leadership, which is also an extra initiative that helps to complete our football development programme,” he said.

As a co-organiser of the scheme, TWGHs will be responsible for talent recruitment and the organisation of some of the courses and activities. Noting that the Club was one of the long-time partners of TWGHs, Sunny Tan, 5th Vice-Chairman of TWGHs cum Chairman of Community Services Committee, expressed gratitude to the Club for its funding support and commitment to youth services in the city.  “The scheme is indeed a very valuable and exciting endeavour for our young people,” he told the guests. “A holistic leadership training programme is designed to provide our youth with the opportunity to acquire not only technical and tactical skills from one of the best soccer schools in the world, but also to enhance their sportsmanship, co-operation, teamwork, problem-solving, self-confidence and leadership capacities.”

This programme will be launched for the first year as a pilot in three districts, North, Southern and Yuen Long, with 45 young people aged between 16 and 19 selected for a three-month training programme starting in April. The training programme will include such elements as an elementary coaching course and personality workshops led by Lee Lai-shan and Lawrence Cheng Dan-shui. The participants will also develop their leadership skills through the organisation of community football activities.

Upon completion of the programme, four to six young leaders with outstanding overall performance will be awarded a trip to Manchester this summer for community football activities, during which they can share experience with Manchester United, observe the team’s training and watch their match.

The Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme is the fourth collaborative project between the Club and Manchester United. The Jockey Club Elite Football Camp has so far given over 120 local budding players the chance to receive world-class training, while the Jockey Club Youth Football Fitness Assessment, whose research findings were unveiled in January this year, has successfully enabled the setting-up of the first football fitness database on the city's youth players.  The Jockey Club School Football Development Scheme, which is now in full swing, has not only brought international football coaching standards to Hong Kong schools, but also enabled students from different social strata across the city to benefit from the professional training and positive learning environment provided by Manchester United Soccer School.

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.