THE CHINA MAIL,
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1958,
SATURDAY SPORTS SPOT
Is Quality Better Than Quantity?
"THE FIRST DIVISION OF THE HONGKONG FOOTBLLL LEAGUE SHOULD COMPRISE NOT MORE THAN SIX OR AT THE MOST EIGHT TEAMS”.
Take a deep breath before you start searching for bricks to throw at the MacTavish Topper for those are not my words. The statement was made to me during the wedding recep- tion in honour of Benny Omar and his charming bride at the Indian Recreation Club on Wednesday evening. Let me assure you it was no fly-by-night utterance made in
the glowing mellowness of a convivial gathering. It was a serious observation made, by a man who has been closely connected with senior football for thirty years; a man in fact who is still one of the most active influences behind all that is best in Hongkong football. "Yenre ago competition was It is often casier to criticise much kocner," he said. "Pingeres had to fight to get into senior poccer for the very good reason that there were only a few teams strong efnugh to play in the Firs Division. Today" players #WŁĄ- ger mannd with the senior long before they are worthy of it and as a result our football has
deteriorated steadily,
ng
offer constructive advice
and so I tobber one problem right back into my friend's penalty area.
I asked him point blank "What would YOU do to revity the situation which exists present?"
ot
of
By
́SPORTING SAM
FASTER
by Reg. Wootton
les, who are concerned, indivi- { job of coaching regimentai box-, himself to minimize or explain. dual or collective,
{ing wags,
uway the conduct of the players There should bo plenty in Another aspect which should There is the strangest reluc- that to keep many of you aryu- | not be overlooked is that the lance lo face up to the fact that ing over the week-end and fur- individuals concerned are. of a touring team carries an extra ther into the future. Ask your-f course, poxers of some standing | spectúl responsibility self the queaton....Should we and their attendance an this shoulders and that its behaviour
its
lo inter-
prune our First Division to concentrated courso will put
good or bad smaller dimunalous in the in- them in tip top physical condi- national news. When something terests of better competition tion for thủ new season.
like the KMP incident occurs and consequently... boi-
Prospective opponents will the international news angle in ter football? Intriguing thought? have to pet down quickly to the not that KMB were involved
job of gelting it otherwise they in un
unsavoury affair will find themselves
at a big but that HONGKONG FOOT- disadvantage when serious com- BALLERS were involved. That peillion commences, What bet-is the really important thing at
er incentive could there be for stake. all active boxers than to embark The latest proposal is that the planned training pro- touring Baumen should now re- gramme without delay?
turn to Singapore fortified by the four Itongkong represepla- ve players who were flown to Malaya for the AnniverBUTY Competition.
The rhythmic tattoo of leather on flesh and knuckles on feather has been heard with pleasing regularity in
1. M. MACTAVISH
u₤
01
A Grave Error?
In the years I have been writing this column have often made it quite clear that I have no intention of
This venture, according to the churning out the sort of planners, is going to restore the Sugar - sweet pleasantries goodwill which was so com- Ilis reply was prompt and a place. Then there should be the vicinily of the Missions that are more suitable for a pletely destroyed the last time precise: "Cut the number Combined Services side which To
KMB appeared at Jalan Besar Seamen's gymnasium society gossip round-up than Stadium.. "The situation has been Senior clubs immediately.
reut chance Six would have
but one wonders helped by the atar gathening sys
a sports survey.
what the Hongkong Football As- is as many us we can support neeling the local Chinese teams during the week." tem which dy nowadays 30 pre-
en fairly lovel Terms. After
A peep through the windows Nothing has happened tosociation will think about such valent. It means that although
satisfactorily but it maine that I would suggest some sort showed 26 virile young pugilists make me change my mind an arrangement and the obvious sible with good planning
of Kowloon
various Combined elevers-tepm
Army there are many clubs in the
unfts or my
involved. principles of writing risks which are
{ have an eight-club compartition, senior division, real competition
........A Hongkong Combined side gathered together for a coaches" without lies or reservations what could be a grave error. "Tids would enable us to run 15 confined
the I believe to be fair comment
It would surely be better for carse, 10 The matches two separate tournaments each and some sort of Combined training betwoon a select few. The season
of Captain Murdoch- and criticism.
all concerned it KMI returned with 44 collection af Civilian side which would in- dance mainder of the games which the teams
Muirhead, Staff Sergeant much
I mention this in passing this quietly to Hongkong and allow- present Hongkong Chandler and Sergeant Madden week because it is becoming in-ed the HKFA to decide, on the evenly clude big duik have to play are devold matched than those taking part | Poller team. That would pro- of interest except for those who in the present
lopsided tarvide the bande strengils of the the students' are going through creasingly obvious that we have merits of their case, how much speculate on the margin of the starved league programme,
It is a matter for fur-ough a conditioning pro-a sprinkling of personalities in the criticism levelled agains! victory which the blɛ boys will
gramme as one could device. we would also provide much better ther consideration where
our sporting midst who sit back them has been justified. redater"
The KMB and fawn contentedly under a
controversy has soccer entertainment for
First Venture the world find the oher one, two, fans and it would
shower of compliments but who been rather submerged by the certainly for three clubs to make up
squžrm and twist
regarding South maintain their interest through-lengue that would really be
criticism-however
As soon as current much it is China's unfortunato experience out the season instead of during balanced competition.'
justified-is levelled the week-ends when the rea-
against them or their pet interests. sonably well-matched sides hap pen to be in opposition".
Too True
i doubt if even the most en- thusiastic football fan will And much to quibble about in that What this profound comment. man of football has to say is only too true and during lost season the tusslo for the league trophy was a one horse race for most of the time though KMB did sustain monage to
for. superficial challenge montis,
more
Was
itleague.
Worth A Place My Interest
certainly arousal and I asked jus, which times Yould figure in his hypo- thetical Competition at loost, u
"South China and KMB wouki almost certainly cach be worth
the
a
a
I
Under
But it is not all brawn and the finer points, of the noble art are given compréhensive coverge. Theory and practice are intelligently mixed.
As far
Well, there you have it. can almost hair the groans
o indignution from Kitchee, East-
as can trace this fern and Sing Tho supporters (5 the first venture of its kind to
I write......but I ask you tes be held
in the Colony by the remember that this is a sugges- Army Physical Training Corps. tien put forward by a Chinese It is certainly a popular innova- football enthusiast who in tion paul the units who have re- spile of everything - still be-leased men to take part in it will loves that the game is
more surely reap a rich benefit when Important than the personak- they return and assist in the
The 'Tip-Off'
news
in India and Burma. Personally
the introduction I deplore polities into sport but in These Unusual
times unusual things
of
| happen ... and my only com-
I was rather amused the other ment is that South China should
evening to be given the "tp-all' have prepared their linerary that one or two people didn't with greater care and enlighten- like' my two articles on the KMB (ed foresight before they left fiasco in Singapore.
Hongkong Everywhere
you turn some- This present embarrassment
have seems to be falling over could
been. prevented.
body
A Conversation Between
Between Britain's Racing
"THE
DANGER
INCE the death of Peter Collins in the German)
SING
Grand Prix many people have wondered how
MAKES
he shouldn't race on il. Peter Collins new all about the circake and he wouldn's have į enced if he thought he couldn't,
the tragedy would affect his old rivals and close moss: the real tragedy is if friends Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn,
You have the pick of
In London last week they [MTOS8; Grand Prix racing in ta recunded this uk converstellun with Peter Geraler Sports Editor of the "Autocar," GARNIER:
to
is
ZACI
driver is killed through some body else's fault.
юл
GARNIER: And in the case of exfest
Collins it is fair to say he the best drivers in the world,
made the anistake himself? the best HAWTHORN: the best car's and
I think L I There naintenance. Many people have
think he just accelerated too asked me whether either of accepted unwritten code bo you would retire soon in view tweet drivers. though it
boss:
only people one The of Peter Collins's death. In applies to only a very small
must inalte sture about are the there anything you
Link group. For example, 1 cate
spectators. But I do feel that say?
There are only three men
if a driver doesn't like a would pass on the outside of n HAWTHORN: Naturally, im-i
circuit he should have the mediately after it happened }
curve — the most dangerous
Butz to say
That muy didn't want to go un. But both
move in motor meing.
Yes,
take more actually
couruga many Peter's widow Louise and his HAWTHORN:
tun driving, 1 for one will father said I should not give
drivers would panic if you did
not drive in the Iniinzapolis- that. up, and on reßection I conlda't
type race at Monza again. see what good it would do.
GARNIER: Do you think that MOS8: I feel 1 shan't relire
Monza should col be held at potil I get the world chan-
517 pionship though it looks as if I shan't get it this year be- cause of Marc! GARNIER: Does the champion- ship bring to the front the best drivers? MOSS: Normally yes. But take Peter Collins two years ago. He told me that he would have been embarrassed he had won it. Remember how he handed his ear over to Fangla In the Italian Grand Prix and let him become champion, He know and we knew that he wasn't the best: he was one of
MO88: It's like two men on a trapeze. One man knows that the other is not going to let him fall. For example: if I'm on the limit at a corner and Mike is, ton,, he knows I won't do something damn silly. GARNIER: Cun circulis
the themselves be minde safer? MOSS: Those poles at Monte
Carlo
and the dliches al
Rheims are preventable hazards, but I don't think you can stop a Grand Prix circul! being naturally hazardous. As; long as there is a good sur- face a Grand Prix driver should be able, tu roce any- where.
the best. But the champion-HAWTHORN: 1 entirely agree,
ship the fairest method that can be arranged." GARNIER: Is there Á smál category at the top in Grand Prix racing in a separate group? HAWTHORN: I think there 15. At the beginning of this year it was about seven. With Fanglo's retirement and the deaths of Musso and Collins It's down to three or four, but, of course, as we retire the up and woming drivers will taiko over. At the moment I think most of Allison and Hill who! are both British. But this new Italian Junior
1,100 C.C. formula is bound to throw up Dome good drivers. Italy d to start it-they just haven't got angronie. GARNIER: Thero kna been
one speculation about Doing now TuŊU on Ürand Pelle pacing to make it ander. What do you think of thía?, HAWTHORN; I think it's worth | My remembering that in
every Grond Epreuve since the war there have been only three fatul mecidents. One occurred betyg Birling onih I started and the other two-Musso and Collins in the last few WORKER
People tell you Silverstone is the satest circuit and Nurburg- ring the most dangerous—that it should be banned. But I Ruarantee eight out of ten drivers prefer the Nurburg ring. At Silverstone the uthar week 1 suckienly thought to myself as I was goig wund: "I don't like this track." I was bored.
An MO98;
MOSS; IT U Americans want
to race at Monza let them People are always trying to tell us what to do, Why should they? We don't go and tell Jolin Cunningham not to test new aircraft.
cary were
GARNIER: Fonglo is reported
to have said that getting too light. What do you say?
HAWTHORN: Fram 1034-37 there was a maximum weight lunit of 750 foliograma (or 1,053 1.) and you could have any inglite size. A 1937 3.6 re Mercedes developed about 646 b.h.p.. Today w Kormula one car develops less than half that power, 280 bhp., and lugs nearly the same weight. MOSS: Yes, and the castest car to drive is the lightest the 500 c.c.
HAWTHORN: While the heavy - sports car is he hardest it's
much more difficult to hold. MOBB: I took a Cooper to this
Argentine because I thought that If the race was going to be difficult 1 could drive it longer than Mike
could hig Ferrari.
expert bridge player would not enjoy play- ing with novices ke Mlice and myself. He wants to play with his equals. It's the sene with racing. The dunge makes the sport. It's the chul- lenge it prestis, and at Nur-HAWTHORN: And the lighter legring it happens to be the the car the less likely you are 170 corners you have to like. to have (yrė trouble, |HAWTHORN; Yes, a Sliver“ | GARNIER; Don't you think
tone it you make a mistake there is always the escape road. It tajoes the plätare cut of reeing a sors of apdistic pleasure, I suppose. MÓSS: If I were a Itigh-wire |
walker 'I wouldn't use a net. An kang ms they avoid poitolis or oil en track I don't see why they should lay to make circuka safet BAWTHORN! If a driver Art
there are loo many TUCCI nowadays? Betarts the WAT you might have driven in a dezen a your; now it's more The thirty. HAWTHORN: Ny; on the con
trary 1 think it helps the driver keep in forma, provided he gels enough sleep in dietween. Take runners, for example,
or
' planists; they, prąčilao' uil the
time.
capable of dealing with a elf-M088; I-recking if I nicep in dult the Nurburgring then my own be sixty-five days
Racing Drivers
THL
out of the year that'a heck of a lat GARNIER: What abouĮ
your fight from Silverstone to race! at Cach the next day? Wasn't that too antch? MOSS: No, becutive -{
having aner in Frame at in 8.15 p.m. I expect 1 was bed earlier than Mike and he didn't even leave the country. RAWTHORN: Frankly I can't
ranember when I went to bed! | GARNIER: Is there an optimum
are for drivers? MOSS: Not really. It depends how much responsibility" you have had and how much you take. To lead team
muck:
more respo
can
than being number
SPORT
ever
cars. Fangio is the only ex- 1 ception. We are continually nwapping positions but he is always the same I Wan watching him only a ftw weeks go and
www fantastic. He was so precise ant nest, and following him f was going all over the place. GARNIER: Are yuu
conscious of reaching the peak of your forin? HAWTHORN: I know when That on fosen; if I don't feel like going fun. I don't. Starting is consistent all the time. MOSS:
19 a lot of psychology attached to it. IE I take over a car that is well at the back I may start to feel that I'm golog better than have for a month because of challenge. GARNIER: And retirement de- pends on the championship -- which in turn depends on Mike?
There
sibly two. HAWTHORN: Yes and it's so
much a matter of confidence. Į Take me in 1950. Everyone said I was finished and frankly I thought so myself. But last | year I began to regain my|MO98: Yes. confidence. People sald HAWTHORN: Whether I get Stirling was finished because championship or not I shall he had been having « lot
retire i
two years' lume- of mechanical trouble with his! completely, once and for all.
TAE
WEEK-KNO
GAMBOLS
(MY WEDDING DRESS)
BOSH! YOU WeRe
SLIM
I'LL BET I COULD, STILL WEAR IT
WAY DID YOU
DRING MB HERE GEORGE?
Answers To Sports Quiz
1. 5,000 metres
metres.
and
10,000
2. The highest number of Test upperances by any player- 66,
3. Previously Wally Honumund held the record with '85 ap- pearances.
4. Bowls.
5. In boxkig. "A Mary Ann" and a "Bunch of Fives" are slang terms for a type of knock-out punch and a flat. 8. Stanley Cullis, Jimmy An- derson, Ted Drake and Billy Walker,
7. Doug Insolo,
Subba Row,
Maurice Tromlott and Colin Cowdrey.
8. Cerutty-after his coach
Percy Cerutty.
9. The Grand National. 10. Godfrey Evans.
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