XN000022-1990-08-26 — Page 4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 1990

650 SCHOOL GIRLS JOIN FOOTBALL FUN

THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE SKILL AND STAMINA OF MARADONNA, BUT THE 650 SCHOOL GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN PASSING AND KICKING THE FOOTBALL AT VARIOUS PITCHES DURING THE SUMMER CANNOT BE FAULTED FOR LACK OF ENTHUSIASM.

AGED FROM SIX TO 18, THE GIRLS WERE TAKING PART IN THE 1990 HONG KONG YOUTH FOOTBALL PROMOTION SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND ASSISTED BY THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE.

"MORE THAN 400 GIRLS TOOK PART LAST YEAR WHEN THE FOOTBALL SCHEME WAS FIRST EXTENDED TO INCLUDE GIRLS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 200 THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

A PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENT WHEN ASKED WHY SHE JOINED THE FOOTBALL PROGRAMME SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF NOVELTY.

ANOTHER STUDENT REPLIED: "I JOINED BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN EQUALITY OF THE SEXES.

"

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GIRLS WERE FIRST GIVEN TRAINING IN BASIC SKILLS BY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS WHO HAD RECEIVED TRAINING BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

AFTER THE BASIC TRAINING, ABOUT 480 WERE SELECTED то LEARN MORE ABOUT DRIBBLING, INTERCEPTING, HEADING THE BALL AND PLAYING AS A TEAM.

TRAINING ENDED YESTERDAY

(SATURDAY) IN VARIOUS

FOOTBALL

PITCHES CONDUCTED IN 16 DISTRICTS.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH WILL COME WHEN THESE GIRLS ARE DIVIDED INTO TEAMS AND TAKE PART IN A FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED FOR NEXT (SEPTEMBER) MONTH.

AND, LIKE THE PREVIOUS WORLD CUP VICTORS AND THE THE GIRLS WILL SOON LEARN TO ACCEPT VICTORY OR DEFEAT.

VANQUISHED,

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