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SCMP Reporter

Secondary school students have been given a chance to display their soccer skills.

  The Instant Dict and Lotto Soccer Skill Challenge, organised by the Hong Kong First Division football club, runs until March.

  All secondary schools can sign up for the competition and 30 teams will be selected to take part.

  John Fan Kam-ping, chairman of the secondary school executive committee of Hong Kong Schools Sports Association, said soccer had become a popular sport among students.

  'Some 200 teams and 3,000 participants took part in last year's Inter-School Football League Competition,' Mr Fan said.

  'In fact, there were many more students who were not selected because they weren't of the right standard. I think a lot more students are interested in soccer.'   The event aims to promote soccer among teenagers.

  Last year the highlight was the strength of shooting, and this year the organisers are determined to promote the concept of accuracy in soccer.

  'It is important to encourage youths to take part in the sport,' said Dennis Lee Shui-chi, senior marketing manager of Group Sense, one of the sponsors.

  The event will be divided into two parts and will focus on soccer skills like heading, dribbling and shooting.

  The first part includes demonstration school tours, which will start on Friday.

    Division One players from Instant Dict will visit Hong Kong schools to demonstrate their skills.

   The second part is the competition on March 26.

   Participating schools have to compete in four categories: ball control, heading, dribbling and shooting.

  Prizes include trophies, medals, Instant Dict electronic dictionaries and Lotto shopping coupons worth up to $8,000.

  'Physically, Hong Kong soccer players may not be as strong as their Guangdong counterparts but their skills are equally good,' said Kwok Ka-ming, chief coach of the Soccer Department at Hong Kong Sports Institute.

  Meanwhile, Ken Ng, executive director of Instant Dict Football Club, urged schools to pay more attention to sports.

  'Studies have shown that Hong Kong students are lacking exercise and are physically unfit,' he said.

  'I hope the school curriculum can pay more attention to the physical development of students.' 



Competition a chance to test your soccer skills