Defiant Chan rebukes detractors

The old lady of Hong Kong football, Veronica Chan Yiu-kam, has defiantly refused to give in to demands that she retire.

Several First Division clubs have requested HKFA president Dr Henry Fok to persuade Chan, the HKFA vice-president, to step down saying she is too old, has dictatorial policies and that her ideas and methods are outdated.

Chan, who is in her early seventies and has been an active supporter of local soccer for more than 37 years, said defiantly: 'I have devoted all my life and money to Hong Kong soccer and the HKFA. All I have done so far is for the sake of the sport.

'I am not going to retire until I cannot bear the workload one day.

'I have no selfish motives and all I want to do is to promote local soccer. I don't understand why they [the club representatives] always want me to step down.' She is the president and founding member of the Hong Kong Ladies' Football Association, and was awarded an MBE two years ago.

Chan complained she was forced to become a 'dictator' because nobody was willing to take up the job.