Latest news with #HKFCSoccerSevens
RTHK
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RTHK
'Stars of the future' at HKFC Soccer Sevens: Souness
'Stars of the future' at HKFC Soccer Sevens: Souness Former Liverpool captain and manager, Graeme Souness (left), and Scott Semple, Chairman of the HKFC Soccer Sevens, said the Hong Kong Soccer Sevens is a great experience for young players. Photo: RTHK Football fans in Hong Kong are gearing up for the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens this weekend, which is bigger than ever with more overseas, top-tier clubs taking part. The Main Tournament is open age (players must be at least 16) and generally features younger players from some of the top European clubs playing against more senior players from local clubs and teams around Asia. According to football legend Graeme Souness, rising stars from the English Premier League will be on show at the Hong Kong Football Club. "It should an entertaining affair, these are the stars of the future and I would say to anyone who's got an interest in soccer, come along and watch," the former Liverpool captain and manager told RTHK's Backchat programme. Current and former EPL aces like Jack Grealish, Gary Cahill and Glen Johnson are some of the young players who made a name for themselves in the tournament, which made its debut in the city in 1999. Brighton will defend their title, headlining a stellar lineup of high-profile clubs like Aston Villa, West Ham United, and Leicester City. Local favorites like the BC Rangers and Yau Yee League Select will take part as well. This year also brings exciting first-time participants, like AZ Alkmaar, Western United, Larne FC, and Macau FA. The Women's Tournament, meanwhile, will return with more teams after a making a successful debut last year. . Scott Semple, Chairman of the HKFC Soccer Sevens, said the goal is to keep growing the tournament internationally. "Having AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands, they'll be very technical, the teams from England maybe a bit more physical, so different styles and ways of approaching the game," Semple said. He added that that the visiting players will get a chance to do some sightseeing around Hong Kong during their stay. As for Souness, who's also managed other prolific teams like Rangers and Southampton, said he's soaking in nostalgia – having made his first visit to Hong Kong back in 1979 as a player. "Welcoming, humid, the waterfront looks the same to me but I am sure it's changed with different buildings. I just love being here,' he said. 'I saw something coming into this building which we don't see in Europe -- people queuing orderly to get into the lifts, and it's such a warm feeling -- back in Europe it's every man for himself and the elbows would be up... [people are] so polite [here] and it's so nice to see.'
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham women all set to compete in big Hong Kong tournament
Steve Dale's Reds will travel to Hong Kong to take part in the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens Tournament - becoming the first women's side to do so from outside of Asia. The tournament, which introduced a women's competition for the first time in 2024, includes Premier League sides Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United. Wrexham's squad will consist of 10 players, with a number of the Adran U19s North title winners included. These are Chloe Ankers, Grace Morris and Leah Burke, who have all made first team appearances. They will be joined by first team players Lili Jones, Ava Suckley and Erin Lovett, who will add invaluable experience. Mia Roberts, a member of the Wrexham line-up that secured promotion to the Adran Premier, will take the final position in the squad. All league matches in the competition will be played on Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17, with the knockout contests taking place on Sunday, May 18. Joining Wrexham across the three-day tournament will be Hong Kong's TSL, Kitchee and Hong Kong Football Club, alongside Thailand's Chonburi FC Women and Eastern Thunder from Singapore. The top-two sides will go through to the women's cup final, with teams ranked third and fourth playing in the shield final, while the plate final will be contested between the fifth and sixth-placed sides. Matches will last for 14 minutes in total, made up of two seven-minute halves, with a one-minute interval at half-time. Wrexham U19s manager Gareth Owen told the club's website: 'I'd like to say a massive thank you to Hong Kong Football Club for the invitation to play in this year's HKFC Soccer Sevens 2025. 'We are so excited to represent the club out in Hong Kong for what will be not only a fantastic footballing opportunity, but a life experience for them as people. 'The way I see it, there's no point entering into a tournament if you're not planning on giving your everything to win it - who knows, we might just add to the silverware that the club has won this season!' Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson added: 'We are excited to be entering a women's team into the HKFC Soccer Sevens tournament for the first time. 'As well as the opportunity to play in Asia for the very first time as a club, the tournament also provides fast-paced football and high-level opposition to test the players at the end of what has been another successful season on the pitch for our women's section, at both first-team and Under-19s level. 'To be invited to the long-standing and successful tournament is a mark of our growth of the Wrexham brand, and will provide a fantastic opportunity for our young players. 'We're looking forward to taking our place at the HKFC Soccer Sevens.' For more information on the tournament, visit the HK Soccer Sevens site. Wrexham squad: Chloe Ankers; Annie Collins; Grace Morris; Seren Cashen; Leah Burke; Bella Devereux; Lili Jones; Erin Lovett; Ava Suckley; Mia Roberts.
South China Morning Post
03-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Soccer Sevens to include overseas women's teams for first time
The HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens will this year welcome three overseas women's teams to compete for the first time, organisers revealed on Thursday. Advertisement Welsh side Wrexham AFC Women, Thailand's Chonburi FC Women and Eastern Thunder from Singapore are the three international teams that will compete alongside Hong Kong's TSL, Kitchee and Hong Kong Football Club. Last month, organisers announced that Premier League academies Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Leicester City and West Ham United would take part in the men's section of the seven-a-side football competition from May 16 to 18. 'We are excited to be entering a women's team into the HKFC Soccer Sevens tournament for the first time,' Wrexham chief executive Michael Williamson said. 'The tournament also provides fast-paced football and high-level opposition to test the players at the end of what has been another successful season on the pitch for our women's section, at both first-team and under-19s level.'
