https://www.scmp.com/rss/322666/feed The HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens is an annual invitational soccer tournament organised by Hong Kong Football Club. The event features two competitions, the Main tournament, which comprises the youth teams of prominent European clubs against senior teams from Asia, and the Masters tournament, which features veteran former players aged 35 and over. Founded in 1999 in an attempt to emulate the popularity of rugby’s Hong Kong Sevens, the event has become a popular fixture on the local sporting calendar.... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When she was 19, aspiring artist Tung shut herself inside her parents’ cramped, 350 sq ft flat in Tin Shui Wai, and did not emerge for a year. She wasn’t trapped. She wasn’t sick. She was just … alone. During that year, she woke up around noon daily, avoided contact with her parents and older sister, and moved from her bunk bed to a desk nearby to sketch or paint. Invariably, she ended up staring at the wall. Determined to block out the external world, she had become what is known as a socially... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3009450/hong-kongs-hidden-youth-societal-pressure-driving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3009450/hong-kongs-hidden-youth-societal-pressure-driving?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 May 2019 00:15:05 +0000 Aston Villa and Newcastle United have cause for optimism as the season draws to a close, according to two former stars of the relegated teams. We’ve been through a horrible period. This has been coming on for years and it should have been addressed better, but it hasn’t Gordon Cowans, Aston Villa Speaking on the sidelines of the HKFC Soccer Sevens, which wrapped up on Sunday night, Aston Villa assistant manager Gordon Cowans and Newcastle under-21 manager Peter Beardsley said they were confident... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1951575/not-hopeless-case-club-heroes-say-optimism-high-newcastle-and-aston?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1951575/not-hopeless-case-club-heroes-say-optimism-high-newcastle-and-aston?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 May 2016 07:09:22 +0000 Aston Villa extended their incredible winning record at the HKFC Soccer Sevens on Sunday when they were crowned champions for a sixth time after overcoming the early loss of their goalkeeper to beat West Ham 2-0 in the Main Cup final. It’s brilliant. I’ve been coming for the last three years and we had a great team two years ago Harry McKirdy In an action-packed finale at Sports Road, the Aston Villa goalkeeper Matija Sarkic had to be taken off with an elbow injury early on after making a superb... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1950960/six-and-counting-aston-villa-secure-another-hkfc-soccer-sevens-title?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1950960/six-and-counting-aston-villa-secure-another-hkfc-soccer-sevens-title?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 May 2016 12:45:23 +0000 Five-time champions Aston Villa set up a HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens quarter-final with Japan’s Kashima Antlers after three successive wins on Saturday. Aston Villa, who have also appeared in the final on two more occasions, claimed victories over Kitchee, Hong Kong Football Club and Newcastle United to top Group A without conceding a goal. “The win [against Newcastle] has given us good confidence going into tomorrow’s game because they’re probably the strongest team in the group,” said Corey... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1950281/aston-villa-and-newcastle-face-east-asian-opposition-soccer-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1950281/aston-villa-and-newcastle-face-east-asian-opposition-soccer-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 May 2016 02:37:44 +0000 If there was a referee that might have reason to be angry about the plight of officials in the modern game that might well be Mike Riley. There is the constant sniping in the media, an excruciating focus on every dubious decision they make, an abundance of new technology leaving them open to even more criticism and a pervasive lack of respect from highly paid players. There aren’t too many referees who feature in their own nine-minute YouTube video chronicling every tiny error from one... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1950018/players-heart-mike-rileys-love-game-keeps-him-focused-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1950018/players-heart-mike-rileys-love-game-keeps-him-focused-job?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 May 2016 17:37:17 +0000 Getting big name clubs to participate in the annual HKFC Soccer Sevens is no problem for organisers as they seek to develop the tournament further, according to tournament director Chris Plowman. But with the soccer extravaganza attracting praise from participating clubs, maintaining an inclusive element of the tournament is a priority. Every team that comes and participates is surprised by the venue and the way the tournament is run Chris Plowman “Every team that comes and participates is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1948821/hkfc-soccer-sevens-success-story-going-get-better-say-organisers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1948821/hkfc-soccer-sevens-success-story-going-get-better-say-organisers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2016 13:15:45 +0000 Try telling Patrik Berger that the Uefa Cup is a lesser tournament and his response scotches that notion. “You have players in the world who were unbelievable players and they never won any trophies. I think you play for trophies, and I was lucky enough to play for Liverpool and to win trophies. Since 2005, Liverpool didn’t win much. I won five trophies in one season! For me it’s about history and it’s great to be a part of the history of such a huge club.” Berger and his former Reds wingman... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1948472/15-years-liverpool-greats-smicer-and-berger-still-shake-their-heads-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1948472/15-years-liverpool-greats-smicer-and-berger-still-shake-their-heads-one?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 May 2016 05:00:00 +0000 Despite their capitulation in Switzerland in the early hours of Thursday morning (HK time), Liverpool have the right man for the massive job at Anfield in Juergen Klopp, according to Uefa Europa League winner and former Liverpool star Patrik Berger. In Hong Kong this week to participate in the annual HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens tournament, Berger and fellow ex-Czech Republic international Vladimir Smicer said they believed Liverpool were set to claim a fourth Europa League crown after witnessing a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1947488/juergen-klopp-will-bounce-back-europa-league-woe-say-ex-liverpool-stars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1947488/juergen-klopp-will-bounce-back-europa-league-woe-say-ex-liverpool-stars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 May 2016 11:45:45 +0000 Leicester City coach Steve Beaglehole has called on his youngsters to use the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens to show they deserve a place in the Premier League champions’ first team. Claudio Ranieri’s seniors won the title by a 10-point margin to claim a first championship in their 132-year history. And Beaglehole hopes his team can add to the trophy cabinet at the Sevens after winning the tournament in 2013. “We have come here to try and win the tournament again and show people we have got some young... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1947220/leicester-city-youngsters-hope-catch-eye-champions-boss-ranieri-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1947220/leicester-city-youngsters-hope-catch-eye-champions-boss-ranieri-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 May 2016 03:15:45 +0000 The Hong Kong Soccer Sevens could welcome the next Premier League champions, after unlikely pacesetters Leicester City confirmed they would be sending a team to the popular event. Five-time sevens champions Aston Villa, former winners Newcastle United, last year’s runners-up West Ham United and Stoke City complete a strong contingent from the English Premier League for the event at Hong Kong Football Club on May 20-22. Villa have been a regular feature at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, which... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1924542/premier-league-pacesetters-leicester-among-five-english-sides?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1924542/premier-league-pacesetters-leicester-among-five-english-sides?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Mar 2016 04:00:15 +0000 Atletico Madrid will be back to defend their title at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens, while Japan will be represented for the first time since 2008 by Kashima Antlers. Atletico came back from two goals down to beat England’s West Ham United 3-2 after extra-time in the 2015 final of the popular summer tournament. The La Liga side boasted the tournament’s seven-goal top scorer Samuel Saiz last year, and with the club’s famed academy renowned for producing the likes of David De Gea and Fernando... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1921809/atletico-madrid-will-defend-title-hong-kong-soccer-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1921809/atletico-madrid-will-defend-title-hong-kong-soccer-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Mar 2016 03:30:00 +0000