Soccer: Hong Kong's amateur Yau Yee League still relevant

In soccer, as in chemistry, a heady, heterogeneous mixture can be amazingly potent, but also precariously volatile. So, if we add some seasoned professionals to a fresh bunch of amateurs and stir it up, what do we get? The Yau Yee League - a "friendship" league forged of players, coaches and match officials of varying abilities, cultures, experiences and talents.

The Yau Yee League is, according to its website, the "premier amateur football league" in Hong Kong, and was formed in 1979. It has grown into a popular league, which today comprises four divisions and 50 teams. There are a plethora of other amateur leagues in Hong Kong but none come close to matching the YYL as an established, and respected, local competition.

Its amateur status belies its quality, especially when compared to the second, third and fourth divisions of the Hong Kong Football Association. Since players are not permitted to register concurrently with both leagues, they have to choose one or the other.

Tellingly, former professional players seek refuge, redemption and a return to past glories in the YYL. Coaches at the HKFA who wish to play soccer at a decent level ply their trade in the YYL, too. The YYL even boasts the HKFA general secretary and a director of the HKFA board as registered players. There is also Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Jonathan McKinley, who does his talking on the pitch, as well as off it, by being a model supporter of the game.

The HKFA recognises the importance of the "friendship" league. Prior to the start of this season, it proposed fielding an under-15 youth team in division four. The idea being that, with expected promotion and greater exposure to increasingly competitive matches over several years, by the time the team become Hong Kong's under-19 representatives they will have progressed to the YYL's top division. The HKFA considered this proposal, because it cannot provide young players with sufficient development opportunities within its own league. Unfortunately, mired in its own restructuring upheaval, the HKFA never followed up on this good idea.

By and large, the majority of YYL players have only played the game at an amateur or schoolboy level. Therefore, the league's heady, heterogeneous mix can cause problems. Some talk of a clash of cultures being a problem. Others say it is a social league, which conflicts with what some insist is a serious competition. All of this is true, but when things get heated it is usually due more to the difference in players' abilities.