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Hong Kong Soccer Sevens
SportHong Kong

Young guns launch Hong Kong Soccer Sevens as old hand Colin Hendry talks about extending careers

The starting gun was fired on the 2017 HKFC Soccer Sevens and it’s a step into the unknown for a Premier League title winner

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Young players launch the HKFC Soccer Sevens under the watchful eye of Colin Hendry. Photos: Power Sport Images
Paul Ryding
As has become the tradition, the firing of Hong Kong’s storied Noonday Gun marked the start of this year’s HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens on Thursday.

Players from seven of the clubs represented in the main tournament were in attendance as Harry McKirdy, captain of defending champions Aston Villa, was awarded the honour of firing the starting gun on the weekend’s festivities.

“We’ve come back to retain the title,” said McKirdy, who will be appearing at the competition for the fourth successive year and was the tournament’s top scorer last year.

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“It’s a good tournament at the end of a season and it’s good to get out here with the lads, play some football and experience another country.”
The firing of the Noonday Gun has become the traditional launch of the tournament.
The firing of the Noonday Gun has become the traditional launch of the tournament.

English Championship side Villa are joined by a host of top European clubs in a main tournament which features Italian outfit Cagliari, France’s Marseille and German side Bayer Leverkusen for the first time.

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“It’s a big city and very different to Germany,” said Bayer Leverkusen captain Joel Abu Hanna. “The people are different, the weather is different but we like it here.

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