Hong Kong youth soccer received a shot in the arm with the announcement that a Guangzhou sports equipment company will sponsor the local team gearing to compete in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The Guangzhou UCAN Sports Company will sponsor equipment for the youth team deemed 'Hong Kong 08' after both parties hammered out an agreement. The company had learned of the Hong Kong Football Association's ambitious plans to train a team of talented players, who will go on to represent the SAR at the All-China National Games in 2005, the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 and ultimately the Beijing Olympics. Last summer, the HKFA identified a group of 25 boys who are being groomed for 'big things' as part of an under-17 Hong Kong squad. The squad is managed by the HKFA and supervised by former national coach Kwok Ka-ming. The concept is inspired by the success of a similar scheme used in South Korea.
