XN000022-1981-11-15 — Page 11

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1981

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HONG KONG YOUTH FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

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A FOOTBALL TRAINING SCHEME, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG, WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STADIUM TODAY (SUNDAY).

THE HONG KONG YOUTH FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME WERE TWO-FOLD.

+THE FIRST IS TO COACH YOUNG PEOPLE BY MEANS OF SYSTEMATIC AND PROLONGED TRAINING AND MATCHES,

+THE SECOND IS TO OFFER HEALTHY RECREATION FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT.

THE SCHEME, WHICH PROVIDES TRAINING COURSES FOR BOTH COACHES AND PLAYERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 18, IS EXPECTED TO TRAIN ABOUT 300 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

THERE WILL BE BASIC FOOTBALL CLASSES AND PRELIMINARY AWARD CLASSES, EACH LASTING ABOUT THREE MONTHS. SUBJECTS WILL INCLUDE THEORY, BASIC TECHNIQUES, PRACTICAL TRAINING AND ACTUAL MATCHES.

THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE WILL PROVIDE THE SCHEME WITH EXPERIENCED COACHES SUCH AS MR KWOK KA-MING, WHILE THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL ARRANGE FOR FOOTBALL PITCHES IN HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE SCHEME.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG PLAYERS WILL REPRESENT HONG KONG IN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEAGUE GAMES IN THE REGION.

ALSO OFFICIATING TODAY WERE THE URBAN COUNCIL SPORTS PROMOTION MANAGER, MR PANG CHUNG- SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER, MR DAVID MAK CHIEF JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE COACH,

MR COLIN MCFADYEAN- AND THE SENIOR AMENITIES OFFICER OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR FARLEY MA.

THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT ARE PROVIDING THE $200 000 THE SCHEME IS COSTING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.