The second friendly match of the JC Youth Football Academy Summit took place tonight (August 16) at Mong Kok Stadium, with the Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team taking on the Manchester United Academy U16 team. Both teams demonstrated great determination and skill, treating more than 4,400 fans to an exciting contest. The match went into a penalty shootout after 90 minutes with the score tied at 2-2. Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team won with a final scoreline of 7-6. Local teams won two historic friendly matches in this year’s summit.
The two teams posed for a group photo before the match. Photo source: HKJC
Both teams walked out onto the pitch, each with a young mascot leading the way. Photo source: HKJC
Both teams demonstrated great determination and skill, treating more than 4,400 fans to an exciting contest. Photo source: HKJC
Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team won with a final scoreline of 7-6. Photo source: HKJC
Manchester United legend Antonio Valencia presented the Player of the Team Award to Zachary Yu from the Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team; and Benjamin from the Manchester United Academy U16 team.
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The two teams posed for a group photo before the match. Photo source: HKJC
Both teams walked out onto the pitch, each with a young mascot leading the way. Photo source: HKJC
Both teams demonstrated great determination and skill, treating more than 4,400 fans to an exciting contest. Photo source: HKJC
Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team won with a final scoreline of 7-6. Photo source: HKJC
Manchester United legend Antonio Valencia, Photo source: HKJC
The HKJC volunteer posed for a photo with a child at the balloon‑twisting booth. Photo source: HKJC
Children tried body painting at the booth. Photo source: HKJC
The mascots of both teams posed for photos with families of fans at the stadium. Photo source: HKJC
Manchester United legend Antonio Valencia, Photo source: HKJC
Guests in attendance at the match included Belinda Wong, Deputy Director Home Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Joanne Chu, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Casper Stylsvig, Freely Cheng, Head of External Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Cora Ho, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; David Vincent, Manchester United Partnership Director; Jennifer Yeung, 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; and Stephen Yau, Chairman, Board of Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre of The Football Association of Hong Kong, China.
Fans attending the match also had the opportunity to meet Manchester United legend and former captain Antonio Valencia; and enjoy a range of activities at booths hosted by Manchester United and the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team in the stadium.
The HKJC volunteer posed for a photo with a child at the balloon‑twisting booth. Photo source: HKJC
Children tried body painting at the booth. Photo source: HKJC
The summit is a collaboration between The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Manchester United and The Football Association of Hong Kong, China. It is supported with funding from the Club’s Charities Trust, with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals operating the programme. During their visit to Hong Kong, the Manchester United Academy U16 team members joined young local players in a series of football and cultural exchange activities, including a visit to the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School as well as a dragon boat experience, training sessions and community service.
The mascots of both teams posed for photos with families of fans at the stadium. Photo source: HKJC
To further promote sports for all and foster social cohesion, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has approved a donation of over HK$134 million through its Charities Trust to support the five-year Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme. The programme also seeks to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan’s strategy to accelerate China’s development into a leading sporting nation as well as the Healthy China development strategy. The initiative will enable more young people to learn and practice basketball for whole-person development and character building, while strengthening community outreach for structured basketball training. To mark the official launch of the programme, a kick-off ceremony was held alongside the Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) Forum 2026 on 7 September.
Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government (centre); Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (6th left); Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (6th right); Dr Axel Schweitzer, President and Owner of ALBA Berlin Basketball (5th left); Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation (5th right); Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys’ and Girls’Clubs Association of Hong Kong (4th left); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (4th right); Dr Wan Lap-man, Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (3rd left); Johnny Wong, General Secretary of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (3rd right); Dr Gabriel Leung, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd left), and other guests at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC
Officiating guests at the ceremony included Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation; Dr Axel Schweitzer, President and Owner of ALBA Berlin Basketball (ALBA); Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the YAO Foundation; Billie Lau, Executive Director of The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA); Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG); Dr Wan Lap-man, Executive Director of Hong Kong Playground Association (HKPA); and Johnny Wong, General Secretary of Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong (YMCA).
Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC
Speaking at the ceremony, Rosanna Law noted that sport is not only about enhancing athletic performance. It also serves as an important foundation for physical and mental well-being, playing a vital role in fostering social cohesion and spreading positive values. She added that the HKSAR Government will continue to invest resources in promoting the holistic development of sports in Hong Kong. Noting that the Club has long been an important partner of the Government in advancing sports development, she expressed confidence that the programme will help expand access to high-quality basketball training in the community, enabling more young people to benefit.
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges delivers a speech at the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme kick-off ceremony. Photo source: HKJC
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club believes deeply in the power of sport to change lives. As one of Hong Kong's most popular team sports, basketball is an ideal way to engage young people while imparting valuable life lessons. With this vision in mind, the Club is working to strengthen sector-wide capacity and build a sustainable basketball ecosystem in Hong Kong through a three-pronged strategy of upgrading facilities, delivering high-quality community programmes and nurturing capable coaches. Through the new initiative, the Club hopes to support the holistic, all-round development of the city’s young people, helping them develop not only their skills, but also their confidence and character.
YMCA collaborates with ALBA to develop a tailored coach training course targeting tertiary students in sports-related disciplines. Photo source; HKJC
The five-year programme comprises district-wide youth training jointly delivered by BGCA, HKFYG and HKPA, as well as coach training organised by YMCA. The youth training will be conducted across all 18 Hong Kong districts, offering annual nine-month basketball programmes for young people aged six to 16, particularly those who may lack equitable access to structured training opportunities due to financial or social barriers. Leveraging the Club’s partnership with the YAO Foundation, and drawing on experiences from ALBA, the programme references international best practices in developing “whole-person basketball training”.
In addition to training and competition, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in learning activities and have opportunities to join exchange trips to the Chinese Mainland and overseas. To maintain high-quality training and expand the pipeline of coaching talent for this and other future basketball programmes, YMCA is collaborating with ALBA to develop a tailored coach training course targeting tertiary students in sports-related disciplines. Upon successful completion of the training, graduates will receive dual accreditation, a YMCA local certificate and overseas recognition through ALBA.
Local elite basketball players and ALBA coaches interact with young people in a skills demonstration at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme. Photo source: HKJC
The programme is expected to benefit more than 4,600 young participants, enhancing their basketball skills, physical fitness, psychosocial well-being and personal growth, while also training some 450 coaches to deliver quality community basketball programmes. In addition, the programme's public engagement activities are projected to attract around 50,000 attendances.
Officiating guests receive commemorative basketballs from youth participants. Photo source: HKJC
As a world-class sports and entertainment organisation with a strong commitment to the nation and to Hong Kong, the Club actively supports national and local sports development at both community and elite levels. These efforts reflect the Club’s purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society. To further strengthen its support for sports development, the Club announced last year a commitment of HK$3 billion over the following three years.
The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Hoops Connect Community Basketball Programme, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.
Group photo, Photo source: HKJC
