Cut-price tickets for school fans on offer
Students will be able to watch Kitchee play AC Milan for a cut-price $120, and there are plans for the star Serie A players to meet local youth at a coaching clinic the day before the match.
Ten thousand regular-price tickets for the May 30 spectacle went on sale yesterday via the internet. The discount student tickets will be available from May 21 at the Hong Kong Football Association offices in Ho Man Tin, and at Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay.
'We really want everyone to be able to see this exciting match - students especially,' said Kitchee team manager Michael Sek.
'Kitchee has intentionally kept ticket prices at an affordable level so that all Hong Kong fans can share in Milan's successful season.'
Out of the total 36,600 tickets going on sale, more than 30,000 cost between $250 and $350, with another 2,000 set aside for senior citizens and students.
Sek confirmed that Kitchee hope to maximise the excitement by having top players from the Italian First Division club participate in 'meet-the-public' events such as a coaching clinic for youth.
'We are arranging for them to arrive on Friday the 28th so that they will be able to do such things,' Sek said.
On May 29, the day before the AC Milan game, the local First Division title will likely be decided when Happy Valley face Sun Hei in a season-ending fixture at Hong Kong Stadium.
Organisers have announced a major charity element to the May 30 showpiece. Some of the proceeds from the game will go to the United Christian Medical Service, which hopes to build an extension to its Kowloon East Hospital.
The government has pledged 90 per cent of funds to this cause, while Kitchee are hoping to raise nearly $800,000 from the sale of 528 VIP Charity Package seats.
Those seats, at $2,500 each, will provide the best view of the match plus a complimentary buffet dinner at the stadium.
The Italian Serie A champions will send some of their best players to Hong Kong, led by former Italian international and team captain Paolo Maldini.
He will be joined by prolific Ukrainian goalscorer Andrei Shevchenko, Italian internationals Alessandro Costacurta and Massimo Ambrosini, Brazilian star Serginho, Argentina's Fernando Redondo and Georgian defender Khaka Kalazde.
Last year, AC Milan beat arch rivals Juventus in a penalty shootout to win the Champions League final at Old Trafford, Manchester.
