1958-09-06 — Page 19

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.

THIS is the Gim

GORDONS

DRY GIN

DIRY LANGU

GORAN MARINO SAL QUALE

AAN BİRAZEN.

Quality Incomparable

Gordon's

Stands Supremes

Solo Distributor:

DODWELL & COMPANY LIMITED

BIGGEST TRAVEL BARGAIN EVERI

See more with Pan Am's

SEE MORE WAY

to EUROPE

Visit up to 15 extra cities at no extra fare

Take a grand tour of Europe with Pan Am's See- More Way. Visit a dozen or more-extra cítios for the regular round-trip fare to only one-the most distant city on your trip. Fly Paj Am's Sen-Moro Way, also, to the U.S. A. or around the world. If you wish, combine your Seo-More trip with Pan Am's new Polar service between Europe and the U.S. West Caist. Ask your travel agent or Pan American for free folder on Pun Ani's Sec- More Way to Europe, the U.S.A, und 'rojnid the world.

For reservations, call your travel agent or Alexandra House, Phone-37031, Hong Kong

Finest Service Round the World

PAN AMERICAN

WORLD'S MOST EXPERIENCED AIRLINE

Pan duazioan World Adeway 1, bma, dacorporated in Jenis of Now Hock, Valde, wish lindant Limbiling

by Barry Appleby

OOH!

THEY'RE SO

UNFAIR

AUGH

THERE

ALL THE THINGS LIKE ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE

RADO

SWISS MADA'

watch

for everyone

Cooking Problems Solved

WITH GAS