Latest news with #HKFCStandardCharteredSoccerSevens
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.'
South China Morning Post
09-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Tough Hong Kong Soccer Sevens group a ‘a great learning opportunity' for young city team
A young Hong Kong team has been drawn in a 'group of death' for this year's HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens, but John Morling, the local association's technical director, said facing European talent could jolt the city's aspiring footballers into developing their professional careers. Advertisement The Hong Kong U22s will play Leicester City, AZ Alkmaar and hosts Football Club in a men's tournament featuring 16 teams, from eight countries or regions, divided into four groups of four. 'It's great for local players to play against players who might be future Premier League stars,' Morling said. 'They might discover they're not miles away from that level, and realise that if they do more technically, tactically and physically, they could become professionals.' The Sevens, which will be staged over three days from May 16, also includes a six-team women's tournament, and eight teams of over-35s vying for the Masters' prize. Morling said his uplifting experiences from competing twice in the Sevens, in his former role as Brighton & Hove Albion academy head, had an impact on his decision to come to Hong Kong. HKFA technical director John Morling and organising committee member Mia Williams at the draw for the Soccer Sevens on Wednesday. Photo: Dickson Lee Morling said that for Brighton, and fellow Premier League entrants Leicester, West Ham United and Aston Villa, the Sevens provided a 'completely different technical and tactical challenge'.
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.'
South China Morning Post
13-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Aston Villa, Brighton among teams to resume Soccer Sevens rivalry in Hong Kong
Five Premier League academies and one side from the Netherlands will battle it out at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens in May, with Champions League quarter-finalists Aston Villa among those returning to Hong Kong. Advertisement Aston Villa lost last year's final to Brighton & Hove Albion, who will also return to Football Club for this year's event. The Soccer Sevens is a 16-team, seven-a-side competition. Academy sides will compete in 14-minute round-robin and knockout games between May 16 and 18. The tournament gives Hongkongers the opportunity to watch some of football's rising stars in action and leading clubs get the chance to put some of their younger players under pressure in a different setting. Last year, Benicio Baker-Boaitey, who played five games in the Premier League in the 2023-24 season, featured for Brighton. Manchester City's Jack Grealish famously played for Aston Villa in 2014. Aston Villa's Rico Richards (left) tries to bring the ball under control during his side's game against West Ham during the 2024 Soccer Sevens. Photo: Yik Yeung-man Joining Aston Villa and Brighton this year are top-flight clubs Leicester City, Newcastle United and West Ham United.
