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The fourth Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme came to a successful conclusion with a graduation ceremony held on 17 June. The students, after taking part in a series of activities, including an elementary football coaching course and themed workshops, showed great progress in their physical, organisational and leadership abilities.

At the ceremony, it was announced that six outstanding young leaders would travel to England in August to undergo youth volunteer training and join community activities organised by the Manchester United Foundation. There, they would also take part in organising local community activities, which would broaden their knowledge and equip them to give back to the community in future. 

Since its launch in 2014, the Jockey Club Youth Football Leadership Scheme has graduated about 150 young people. Organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club in collaboration with Manchester United and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), the scheme recruited 44 young people aged between 15 and 19 from all districts of Hong Kong this year. They underwent three months of football coaching training, life-skills training, and classes in community service, which nurtured them to be leaders of tomorrow. In addition to the six outstanding students who won a trip to Manchester, other students will attend a three-day exchange tour to Guangzhou in July.

Speaking at the ceremony, Scarlette Leung, the Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Planning, Communications and Membership, said that the training programme provided valuable opportunities for the young students leaders, and she hoped that they would be proud of their efforts and treasure this experience for the rest of their lives. She encouraged them to develop their potential and contribute to the community in future.

Of course, the success of the course depended not only on the hard work and positive attitude of the students, but also the support of a dedicated group of coaches. The elementary football coaching course was headed up by Christopher O’Brien, Hong Kong Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School, while the personality and leadership workshops were led by renowned mentors, including world-class boxer Rex Tso, former Head Coach of the Eastern Long Lions Chan Yuen-ting, multi Paralympic gold medallist Yu Chui-yee and multi-media producer and presenter Ng Ka-him.

Before leaving to prepare for his next bout, star boxer Rex Tso was on hand to award the winner of the “Best Improvement Award” with an autographed T-shirt, and the winner of the “Leader of the Leaders Award” with a pair of autographed boxing gloves.

Former Hong Kong cyclist Jamie Wong Wan-yiu – nicknamed “Iron Woman” – who won a silver medal at the Asian Games was also one of the guests of honour. Ms Wong was involved in a major accident at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and she fought the pain to finish the Point Race and win the silver medal. Everyone was amazed as she shared her story and ‘never give up’ spirit!

Also at the ceremony, the Club also announced the four best performers of the HKJC Soccer 4 - Elite Youth Clinic, held at the Riding High Together Festival earlier this year. They also will be travelling to England with the six outstanding young leaders for a week of volunteer training and community activities this August.