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‘5 vs. 50’ challenge at Parents Workshop! MU legend Wes Brown: “Fully enjoyable!”

12/03/2019

Manchester United legendary player Wes Brown made a whirlwind visit to Hong Kong on 24th February and showed up as a mysterious special guest at the HKJC ‘Pass It On’ Parents Workshop. He formed a team of five with parents and played against 50 children in a football match, which Brown referred to as: “fully enjoyable, especially when the kids were running down the pitch. Love to see and enjoy the time with parents and kids.”

  • Parents and children with Brown after the second workshop.
    Parents and children with Brown after the second workshop.
  • Brown and the young players played the very creative 5 vs. 50 football match.
    Brown and the young players played the very creative 5 vs. 50 football match.

About 50 families attended the second HKJC "Pass It On" Parents Workshop and continued to enrich their knowledge through participating in the well-crafted lectures conducted by Cindy Wong, Part-time lecturer of Education University of Hong Kong and Principal of Bo Bo Nursery School; Samuel Bensley, Grassroots Football Manager of Hong Kong Football Association, and Tsang Wai Chung, Futsal Manager of Hong Kong Football Association. The lectures focused on three aspects, including: sports psychology, sports nutrition, and football and teenager development. Parents were inspired to experience and grow with their children and to learn how to become their children's life coaches.

  • Cindy Wong, Part-time lecturer of Education University of Hong Kong and Principal of Bo Bo Nursery School, helps parent coaches further understand their children through football from a sports psychology perspective.
    Cindy Wong, Part-time lecturer of Education University of Hong Kong and Principal of Bo Bo Nursery School, helps parent coaches further understand their children through football from a sports psychology perspective.
  • Samuel Bensley, Grassroots Football Manager of Hong Kong Football Association, explains the importance of nutrition for football players.
    Samuel Bensley, Grassroots Football Manager of Hong Kong Football Association, explains the importance of nutrition for football players.

Football: the best communication tool between parents and children

The grand finale of the workshop was the appearance of Wes Brown, one of the legendary players who was part of the team that won three cups for Manchester United in 1999. A father of three daughters, Brown was envious of Hong Kong parents: “It is a shame that my daughters did not choose football,” he lamented. “Football is one of the best tools for parents to communicate with kids. The way parents and kids enjoy themselves impressed me the most today. I hope kids can remember the experience, and will keep trying and continue in the future.”. He also believes that enjoying football is most important: “Even when we were playing in (Manchester United) first team, our coach asked us to enjoy the game as well.”

  • Tsang Wai-chung, Futsal Manager of Hong Kong Football Association, encourages parent coaches to allow young footballers to keep trying and experience failure, as he believes this is the way leading to success.
    Tsang Wai-chung, Futsal Manager of Hong Kong Football Association, encourages parent coaches to allow young footballers to keep trying and experience failure, as he believes this is the way leading to success.
  • Parents and children enjoying great fun on the pitch.
    Parents and children enjoying great fun on the pitch.

Parents practise learning and creating wonderful memories with their children

It is important to let young players enjoy football before getting them motivated in training. In the third workshop to come, parents will continue to sharpen their skills and acquire all sorts of football knowledge, so as to enable them to prepare for future tournaments including the HKJC Soccer 4. Once a coach for the Blackburn Rovers youth team, Brown reminded parents to give full support to their young footballers: “Try to encourage them even when they are at their lows; make sure they enjoy it and are willing to keep trying.” After attending all three workshops, some parents are eligible to form a team to participate in the HKJC Soccer 4 tournament to be held during the Riding High Together Festival at Sha Tin Racecourse. They will put their learning into practice and create an unforgettable experience with their children.

  • Brown bonded well with the children.
    Brown bonded well with the children.
  • Children fully enjoy the football training session.
    Children fully enjoy the football training session.

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