You might remember in my blog here a week ago I mentioned that local football club Kitchee were crowned champions of the Hong Kong league this season. Back on Thursday I had the chance to offer my congratulations in person to the team’s general manager and Kitchee Foundation Chairman Ken Ng, as well as some of the team’s key players. That day also marked a very important occasion for the Kitchee Football Club, and a landmark in the development of Hong Kong football, as thanks to a HK$63 million donation from the Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre project got underway with a ground-breaking ceremony at the site in Shek Mun, Sha Tin.
Those of you who follow local football closely will know that Kitchee has become one of the forerunners of nurturing local young football talent in recent years. Kitchee has developed a great partnership with Spanish giants Barcelona by introducing Barca’s style of play into their first team, and also by bringing some of Barca coaches and their youth training system into Hong Kong. They have enjoyed much success as a result, with its youth teams performing well in various competitions locally and overseas, while eight of their youth players have been selected for the latest Hong Kong Under-16 team.
Once the Kitchee Centre project is completed around Christmas time this year, it will become the city’s first purpose-built facility designed specifically for youth football training. In my view it’s always good for youngsters to receive systematic football training, learning about tactics at an early age, and with the hard work and the vision of Kitchee we are confident that this strategic partnership with the Club will be able to nurture more young stars for the local football scene. From a personal point of view, I am very much looking forward to taking part in a friendly match at the Kitchee Centre when it goes into operation in January.
Over in Spain, Kitchee’s partner Barcelona failed to defeat Atletico Madrid in their final league match last week, allowing the latter team to be crowned champions of La Liga – a huge feat for Atletico when one compares the significant contrast between their club’s financial strength and that of Barcelona or Real Madrid. With the league title in the bag, they now have the chance to notch a famous double when facing city-rivals Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League final tonight. Like Atletico, Real will also place huge importance on this match, as a win will give them the 10th European Champions title in the Club’s history.
A point to note is that injuries are affecting key players of both teams – Diego Costa of Atletico and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real – and neither are certain starters for the match tonight. As a football fan, I would love to see both teams fielding full strength teams in such an important match. In terms of the likely outcome, I would give slight preference to Atletico, as their manager Diego Simeone has done a great job in motivating his team this season. With their latest success in La Liga, I believe their confidence will be sky high. This could well give them an edge in the contest and we'll see if that is enough to help them become European champions tonight.
After watching the Champions League final, please make sure you do not get up too late tomorrow, as a total of 11 exciting races are up for grabs on a great card at Sha Tin. The day’s highlight is the HKG1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, the last leg of our Triple Crown series. In a stellar renewal, our leading four-year-old Designs On Rome is chasing his fourth consecutive HKG1/G1 victory in his final start of the season, and the race also features this season's LONGINES Hong Kong Vase winner Dominant, and the past two winners of this race, California Memory and Liberator. I’m sure it will be a fascinating contest, both for racing fans and those who enjoy world class sport. Please come and join us at the racecourse and receive a stylish souvenir cap for free upon admission, while stock lasts.
The Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup is our Hong Kong Group 1 over 2400m. It has attracted a small but elite field. The pace is likely to be slow and this may not be a true test of the horses’ stamina. The winner will likely be decided on which horse has the best finishing speed. Same World needs to work early to get across in front to lead again. Bubble Chic and Liberator can either join him or just sit off the pace along with Blazing Speed. Dominant is likely to be positioned in midfield with California Memory a little further back, and Dibayani and Designs On Rome at the back of the field.
Dominant is a proven international Group 1 stayer and he will give a good test to Designs On Rome who is working very well. Designs On Rome should be able to stay the extra distance and he is my favourite, but I would not underestimate Dominant. Dibayani is a real stayer and would be my third choice for a place.
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