THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1959.
SATURDAY SPORTS SPOT
Of "Big" Socker, -And Little Soccer
By I. M. MacTAVISH
Sport is full of good things if only one can find them. The sensational event, the controversial incident, the unsavoury
and even the bizarre
all make the headlines
while the reassuring little things that mean so much pass almost unnoticed.
On Wednesday evening I was a privileged guest when the Hongkong Amateur Boxing Association bade farewell to its president, Mr W. A. Whiting.
that whenever his good reason. up in the future.
name was on the bill the local click Mr Whiting's word for the fans make the turnstiles HKARA was fully extolled atmerrily as they turned up to ace the presentation ceremony,... him crosst gloves with worthy but what of the future?
spponents,
Good-byes are always dimoult ; the centre of many an admiring and they are doubly so when An organi ation
Torin 3 Jong-rving member who has worked tirelessly on its behalf. A Lig problem generally revolves rebel the Important queriton of how that servies
ber shouted
mreugnised. for after all genuine amateur sports officials do not carry out their duties
anticipation of personal rewani.
arc
Conventional presentations
always appreciated course but, when there is a touch of imagination -- or Inspiration In deciding the form the presentation should fake, a new intrinale value is
iven to the whole thing.
Amateur Hongkong The
Association is to be Boxing congratulated on its method of Promising Mr Whiting's wervier to boxing The ameials rimly and appropriately made boxing their theme.
Life Membership
An honour which I am are Mr Whiting will particularly appreciate ia the IIKABA'S deci ion to confer on him the first horory Life membership What a one of the association.
What Otting #ture this is. way to acknowledge six years of "hard work in which real progress has been maie in the Colent' boxing affair
In the years to come certain the Cne zernil
a211
of life
membership will And a pru- min! place on the wall of the recipient's home,
D
With the
went scroll maguidecatly mounted matre of a boxer. The hare carrie an inscribed plaque ant this hamisomu ciento of boxing in Hongkong will no doubt be
washes
Quink
Vital Problem Henry did a great service to
que
Our
boxing administrators must face up to and solve vital problem. They must, some- how of other, break down what-!
the ever barriers exist and Ret Chinese youth of the Colony interested fu boxing The future success of the JIKABA depends alust entirely on its ability to induce the sports keen Chinese to don gloves and duck through the ropes in com}} – petitive contests.
Only the other day i heard it said that this would not be
to achieved
any worthwhile degree.. because the Chinese saturally dislikes style of boring.
I simply cannot belleve that that
statement >>f
Seen here is the trophy which was presented to Mr W. A. Whiting by the HKARA in appreciation of the services he rendered as President of the HKABA for five years.-China Mail Photo.
matches,
boxing and it is one of these sa situmlione that neces bim reach the retiring age just when petitive miniatue football the modern HKABA had be some # tral Influence, If the
Whether it is a good or a bad two could have
achieved thing for players who belong to maturit simultaneously the club m membership of the healthy combination of
Association com Hongkong Football control un
the one to play mini-soccer is quite be- hand and
practical
pugilistle gide the point. popularity on the other could i
monsense
have done a great deal to bring The aspiring Chinese boxers into the ring in the hope of vunulating their local hero.
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However, there is little pur- to speculating on what It is much the Western might have been.
consider important to what can be done now,
Chinese President?
tablished fact for 1 have lived
(among Chinese in other parts
the world and they have shown keenness and skill in the ring ...and that is true of Chinese in ball: professional and amateur boxing.
Little Enthusiasm
Nevertheless
for some
reason the Chinese youth of Hongkong has so far shown little enthusiasm for The although they have came always been ready to turn up
to cheer In goodly numbers Chiric
representatives They have been
whenever Ju action. Crafty old Henry Wong was the Colony's most sought after boxer for years for
the very
right out
QUINK
The IIKABA is of course well aware of the situation.
to
FIFA Rules Clear
as an act of defiance by the players concerned....and it they
with travelled
the approval of their clubs then the matter Is sifil more neriowa.
In Chinese circles the matter has been reported na 'n protest by action' but it must inevitably st: up a lot of trouble. It has The simple fact is that been suggested in certain places
made FIFA have
It very that if the players are not per- clear that the rame-which | milled, to participate mill- does not conform to the basic
which Soccer
as far is, standard rules, of
inter- FIFA-and in
consequence the Hallo! football is nat JKFA
concerned, ar recognised and in consequence | unrecognised form of sport, any player who taken part in they will not
accept selee. danger it places himself in
tion [ur Mic forthcoming inter- Interport
against the ATICS Peruvian visitors,
of suspension. national basis,
on an
A
1
Lhe The
At first sight it would appear that
we pro abntt to *v show of
with strength players
Hide and on one JKFA on the other. Such a situation would of course ho fundamentally farcical
It is un longer a question of Show Of Strength? The officials are experienced, whether club officials are pre- 'men who represent many box: pered approve or disappiove and would he participation of their players ing InterraÍA be presumptuous
offer in the miniature game. It
international rules them advice....but I believe, milter of that in its efforts to achieve and directives hid down by its goal that is to get the FIFA and as such these young Chinese mate Interested; binding on all clubs in member- In the sport of fisticuff the ship of the JKFA which is of association should search for course controlled by the Inter- The rules are prominent Chinese sporis. national boxy. man to fill the vacant offler of 'equally binding on all players president,
· registered with the HKFA.
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even more astonishing is the report that, in spite of the
views slated apparently FIFA, herp
are bicials the HKFA who would seek This important question WRS waive the ruling of the highest The correct lead from
International
have body and the presidential chair night be raised at the last Council meet-
ing of the HKFA and as a re- the local Association permit Just the influence that is
sul: of the deliberations all participation in Association quired to show and in fact
theminiature football competitions them conviner...the Chinese sports-clubs veived a letter from
informing Association
by a registerod players, man that boxing offers healthy that no piryer registered with and satisfying recreation and the Association is permitted to that, with proper training and play in any commetitive minla- Intelligent supervision during ture foolball match'.
his early development, he can The clubs were further re- be put on the road to a success-quested to inform all their ful ring career.
player: accordingly.
Om progressive presidential perlod has come to an end... we shall watch the next one with great interest and сол ndence.
*
Washable Royal Blue. There is nothing so mis-
Soap and water washer "overy trace of Hayal Blue Washable_Quink_from whodung and fingers. For unfely- Waste Quink. For permanenc Permanent Quand. Quink is the only ink contakling magis Sulv-X--which olcans and protocta any pent.
QUINK INK IS A PRODUCT OF
THE
WHERENO
PARKER
Quink
THE PARKER PEN COMPANY
GAMBOLS .
LOOK, GEORGE!IVE BOUGAT)
| THIS NEGLIGE FOR YOU.
"TO GIVE ME FOR
CHRISTMAS
leading as the calm before the storm.
That is pretty much the casę In Colony soccer at the moment and various situations which are
known.
Lenient Treatment
This is a grave step which should be examined with the rrestest care and caution. Infringement of FIFA rules can have embarrassing con- sequences AJ clubs and associations In other landa have found in recent years.
The subject was raised in:
In Australia, for example, Connell because it was well teams in one competition can- known that star players had not play against cams in an- In fact been breaking the other because no FIFA- rules by taking part in such registered association can en- rompeitions without DeY-
with arr Kage in competition mission but, in a mood, of other which is not in similar generosity or maybe even membership. extensive renerosity - no action was takett immediate against them, Catrary 10
tray I think it is an excellent game and I have derived a from great deal of pleasure watching it....but that is not the point.
I like driving a
car at high speed but as long as the traffe laws permit me to travel at a maximum of 30 miles an hour, I have to do it....without re- garding 1 us a restriction of my personal liberties. It is exactly the same with our footballers, When they become more power- ful than the laws under which they
they are play then Jezer an asect to the 112.
no
They are simply an embarrass
ment to
everyone....and no player, no matter how good he may be, 19 Judlapensable, The game existed successfully before he arrived on the scene. .it will still be played long after he has gone.
This is duly one of several Important issues which the HKFA will have to face up
In the immediate and near future. The whole develop- ment of the game in. long- kong may rest on the wisdom of the decisions It makes.... particularly
there have already been uneasy TERYOUTS or possibile withdrawals from mentbership.
As
Absolutely Right
A elsewhere in the press the question of "berty" has been raised, let me finish with this comment: A player is at liberty to sign for any club he wishes but once he voluntarily puts pen to paper he implies is un- qualified acceptance of the rules local and international which govern the competition in which his club participates.
That is the simple bask of low and order,
You connot accept the good laws and defy the ones you do not like. You must campaign constitutionally for the improve- ment of the latter
I have a lot of sympathy for A small place like Curs the players involved in the pre- have unqualifted cunnot afford to be at variance | sent situation:
the
International top
admiration for the excellently- accepted with
add the soONET run miniature football competi developing may yet lead to the principles alles ignorance of authority... biggest clash of interests that the rules was regarded
commani.crisO 'Mets' good tions but I am satisfied the even Hongkong's highly
con- valid
breakingiving the better it will be for HKFA Is absolutely right in its for Excuse troversial football has ever then. One would have thought all. The vital point is to try present actions,
10
football ac get miniature such lenler treatment would It would be easy to be ultra have
cncouraged healthy pled by FIFA. Until that is
who ullia
achieved fsensational
players dramatic
response .. ultra foolish about what is
elpate in it place their future not a bit of it. going on at the moment,
in jeopardy The
Earlier this week Д full veroaculer press for example,
officials who permit it. contingent of alar players left has been going to town during
for Macio to play in a series Let me make it clear I have vexing the week on the very
nothing of miniature football matches. | abrolutely
against question of HKFA teglstered
This could well be regarded | minioture soccer. On the players participating in com-
By Barry Appleby
but
AIR-INDIA
HIDE
UP AND HIDE IT
IT WON'T BE A SURPRISE
COURSE
NOW WRAP IT
SOME WHERE
IF I SEE IT
par-
50 do
con-
This is probably the most I have important decir story