Endorsed with a Bronze membership in 2018, the HKFA worked its way up to the Silver level by 2021 before becoming the sixth MA to receive Gold level membership for its concerted efforts to consistently enhance its grassroots system.
As part of the evaluation process, the AFC assessors visited the HKFA’s facilities and were pleased to note the commendable endeavours that had been made by the HKFA grassroots staff since the Confederation’s last inspection.
During the visit, which spanned over four days, the AFC’s assessors attended the Jockey Club Women’s League FA Cup Final, a district level U8 match, a coach’s workshop, as well as a training workshop for elderly volunteers.
Additionally, the experts also engaged in multiple dialogue sessions with staff members of various departments of the HKFA and spent a considerable amount of time discussing future plans and programmes with its grassroots team.
Prior to the physical visit, the AFC had also conducted several virtual meetings with the HKFA where the latter had provided all the relevant information that would be required by the assessors to evaluate the MA’s grassroots programme.
The assessors were delighted to note the HKFA’s distinct team structure and also the considerable governmental support, which has allowed them to implement a comprehensive network of football leagues for all levels and ages.
“It has been a pleasure to develop Grassroots Football over the past decades, and it is definitely great to have our efforts recognised by the AFC and to be endorsed as a Gold level member under the AFC Grassroots Charter,” said Joaquin Tam, HKFA’s Chief Executive Officer.
“This recognition helps us raise awareness of grassroots development, which in turn aids in gaining public support. We deeply appreciate the continuous support from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Leisure and Cultural Service Department and the Hong Kong Jockey Club in developing long-term grassroots projects.
“During the pandemic, we explored several ways to conduct online programmes to help local children stay active, and after social distancing measures were relaxed, we implemented initiatives such as the Active Aging Elderly Football Programme and a volunteer programme to promote inclusivity in football and enable all our citizens to enjoy the beautiful game,” he added.