East Asian Football Federation U18 Tournament – Guam東亞足球聯盟18歲以下足球錦標賽—關島

East Asian Football Federation U18 Tournament – Guam

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to the tropical paradise of Guam, a place I have always wanted to visit. I wasn’t disappointed. The Island was beautiful and the locals were happy and friendly. The hospitality we enjoyed was second to none and I really want to publically thank our hosts, the EAFF and the Guam FA for their generosity and excellent organisation. My wife and I managed to find time for some rest and relaxation and I did some scuba diving, which was fantastic.

 

The main reason we were there however was to watch the EAFF U18 Tournament which was thoroughly enjoyable too. I am delighted to tell you that the Hong Kong team won the tournament with a 100% winning record. The Hong Kong team beat Macau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, DPR Korea and Chinese Taipei. I was only there for the weekend so I couldn’t watch all of the matches but the ones I saw were very pleasing. The Hong Kong team performed really well and deserved their success. They controlled the games with some excellent passing and good movement off the ball. They worked hard for one another and took their chances very well. They were composed and organized throughout and looked a very mature side.

 

The discipline on and off the pitch was exemplary and testament to their character and that of the Coaching team. Coach Szeto and his colleagues deserve great credit for their work in preparing the team. I was very impressed and it gives me a lot of optimism for the future.

 

As a footnote, the Tournament was held at the Guam National Football Training Centre (pictured below). How envious I was of this excellent facility with its grass pitches, synthetic pitches, beach football court, futsal courts etc. I ask myself, how is it possible that a place like Guam with a population equivalent to 2.4% the size of Hong Kong can have a National Football Training Centre and we can’t? It’s quite embarrassing really.

 

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東亞足球聯盟18歲以下足球錦標賽—關島

 

 

上週本人十分榮幸能夠前往心儀已久之地—「熱帶天堂」關島。這趟旅程可謂不枉之行，除了飽覽風光旖旎的醉人景致、原居民友善的好客之道、以及下榻首屈一指的住宿，本人在此公開感謝是次比賽的主辦單位—東亞足球聯盟及關島足球總會為香港代表隊提供至臻完善的安排。本人與太太難得偷得浮生半日閒，能夠在如斯美境中享受浮潛的滋味。

 

當然，此行之主要目的並非遊玩，而是親臨現場觀賞東亞足球聯盟18歲以下足球錦標賽，真的妙不可言！本人有幸目睹香港19歲以下代表隊能夠在是次大賽中贏得錦標，先後擊敗澳門、關島、北馬里亞納群島、朝鮮及中華台北，以全勝姿態登上冠軍寶座。本人雖於週末才抵步以致錯過盡覽全部賽事，但球隊的出色發揮仍覺倍感欣慰。香港代表隊在本屆賽事中表現出色，奪冠可謂實至名歸。無論在傳球及走位皆能掌控比賽節奏，各隊員間相互配合以致爭取不少埋門機會，在組織進攻及戰術演繹上，均可反映球隊步向成熟的一面。

 

此外，在教練團隊的英明領軍下，球隊在場內外皆嚴守紀律。教練司徒文俊先生以及其團隊在備戰方面應記首功。透過是次比賽，本人深受感動及對香港代表隊的未來充滿憧憬。

 

 

最後文末作為註腳，是次比賽在關島國家足球訓練中心舉行(如下圖所示)，場館內的高質素設施令人既妒且羨，如真草場地、人造草場、沙灘足球場、五人足球場等設施應有盡有。我不禁撫心自問：為何在這個僅佔香港2.4%人口的彈丸之地，存在一個頗具規模的國家足球訓練中心，反而香港不能？這真是令人尷尬。