Tseung Kwan O soccer facility receives HK$133 million funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Officials say soccer pitches could be ready in two years' time after acquiring financial backing and land to help with the development of the local game
The long awaited Tseung Kwan O training ground could be in place in two years after the Hong Kong Football Association received both land and financial backing.
Chief executive Mark Sutcliffe said on Tuesday HK$133 million in funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been agreed for the construction, which is due to start next year.
We are still in discussion with the government on the using period of the landfill site and it should be over 10 years
A consultant company will be appointed to oversee the construction project which will see three natural turf pitches and three artificial turf pitches to be built on the landfill site.
The government has also released the land which was previously held under the Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme, introduced through the Chief Executive 2014 Policy Address to expedite the development and make better use of restored landfill sites.
A HK$1 billion funding has been set aside for non-profit making organisations and national sports associations to apply for. But with the funding support from the Jockey Club, the Football Association could now start the project on its own.
“We are still in discussion with the government on the using period of the landfill site and it should be over 10 years,” said Sutcliffe.
“The opening of the training centre will have a long term effect on the development of Hong Kong soccer from grassroots to the representative teams levels.”
Sutcliffe also disclosed they will hire a new elite youth coach from Japan to assist national coach Kim Pan-gon on development and also help local clubs.
