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Develops the physical, mental and social capabilities of young people and fosters an attitude of excellence

Confucius Hall Secondary School

03/06/2019

Combining Eastern and Western culture: The radiance of diversity at Confucius Hall Secondary School (08/01/2019)

Perseverance and acceptance – the threads of football heritage (08/04/2019)

Inspire the next generation and provide all-round education through football(Updated on 03/06/2019)

 

Combining Eastern and Western culture: The radiance of diversity at Confucius Hall Secondary School (08/01/2019)

For football fans, Caroline Hill Road immediately reminds one of Hong Kong Stadium, the ‘holy ground’ of football in Hong Kong. Situated next to the stadium for the past 65 years has been the Confucius Hall Secondary School, a school which has been deeply influenced by the football culture of its neighbourhood. Kwan Ho-kwan (Kwan Sir), the school’s Physical Education teacher as well as football coach, has enrolled in the HKJC School Football Development Scheme this academic year. He hopes to inject a new western approach and combine it with Chinese traditional moral excellence to help students achieve all-rounded development through football.

  • Kwan Ho-kwan (Kwan Sir), the school’s Physical Education teacher as well as football coach, the experiences of teaching football to South Asian teenagers and district youth team have given him a better understanding of teenagers with different cultural backgrounds.
  • Students from Confucius Hall Secondary School come from all over the world, including: Spain, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, and have unique and multicultural backgrounds.

Students from Confucius Hall Secondary School come from all over the world, including: Spain, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, and have unique and multicultural backgrounds. The Confucius philosophy taught by the school seems to have successfully created a harmonious atmosphere where students get along with each other very well. Before joining the school and taking over the football team, Kwan Sir used to teach football to South Asian teenagers at the local community centre. He was also an assistant coach of the Yau Tsim Mong youth team. These experiences have given him a better understanding of teenagers with different cultural backgrounds. “Chinese are more reserved, especially when it comes to expressing themselves. Westerners are more freestyle and open; they are willing to attempt many things, but they also easily give up. Their respective limitations have become stumbling stones in their lives.” Kwan Sir believes that football is the best tool to complement their respective differences and create stronger bonds at Confucius Hall Secondary School.

  • Head Coach of the Manchester United Soccer School Hong Kong Christopher O’Brien (OB) introduced the session plan to the students of Confucius Hall Secondary School.
  • Kwan Sir realised the common traits of Confucius and the philosophy of Manchester United Soccer Schools. He hopes to inject a new western approach and combine it with Chinese traditional moral excellence to help students achieve all-rounded development through football.

After joining the Scheme, Kwan Sir came to realise the common traits of Confucius and the philosophy of Manchester United Soccer Schools – both schools of thought emphasise all-rounded development, including: moral excellence and interpersonal skills; teaching without prejudice, and assisting students of different capabilities. “Not all students are qualified to become professional football players, but this is not the ultimate achievement we want football to bring them. What matters more is when one day they become parents, football can become a channel of communication with their children. They can pass on the good spirits, including a good learning attitude and interpersonal skills, as well as respect for their teachers and coaches, to the next generation.”

After attending the Scheme, Kwan Sir vision is to break the cultural barriers and enhance the capability of students from different cultural backgrounds. How will the Scheme transform him and his students in the coming months?

Perseverance and acceptance – the threads of football heritage (Updated on 08/04/2019)

Thanks to the JC School Football Development Scheme and the coaching of Kwan Sir and Christopher O’Brien, Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS), the Confucius Hall Secondary School (CHSS) football teams have benefitted a great deal and achieved a breakthrough.

Two core members of the girls’ team are Filipinas Andrea Kyle Zabat Vallejo and Cheryl Rose Villamor Manaol, both of whom are in Form Four and have only over a year of football experience. Admitting that there is still huge room for improvement in terms of their skills, Andrea and Cheryl agree that the Scheme has given them a unique experience with its professional and lively training approach. Andrea said: “Apart from the tools and support from MUSS, Coach Kwan has picked up a more western-style training approach, which has made our simple practices and small-scale games more professional. The encouragement from the two coaches has also lightened the mood at training. This is an unforgettable and fun football experience, especially for less-proficient players like us. It has motivated us to improve ourselves.”

  • With just over one year of football experience, core members of the CHSS girls’ team Cheryl (left) and Andrea (right) expressed that they have had a wonderful experience undergoing the Manchester United Soccer School training offered by the Scheme.
  • The two football freshmen think Kwan Sir (right) has learnt a great deal from OB and is now able to drive the team forward.

Andrea and Cheryl think Kwan Sir is interesting and humorous; he is highly respected by students both on and off the pitch, and is one of the most popular teachers at school. “No matter we win or lose a game, or what our ability is, Coach Kwan never gives up on any player, be they girl or boy. It is just like the “never give up” spirit advocated by MUSS. He patiently teaches us the right attitude and gives us unlimited support. This is a great encouragement to our development and has taught us to persevere,” said Cheryl.

  • Kwan Sir (middle) is good at interacting with students, which makes him a popular teacher at the school.
  • Andrea (left) and Cheryl (right) are willing to reach out to new members and help them adapt to the team.

Under Kwan Sir’s influence, the two girls have followed in his footsteps and taken the initiative to reach out to new team members who come from different backgrounds. “There are no boundaries of country, background and ability in the world of football. When we see that some new members are more introverted, we will reach out to them and help them blend into the team.” Thanks to the tremendous efforts of Kwan Sir and the girls, the girls’ team has expanded from ten members to nearly 20. They hope to apply what they have learnt from the Scheme to further strengthen the CHSS football teams.

How will Kwan Sir conclude this year’s Scheme after the final school visit?

Inspire the next generation and provide all-round education through football(Updated on 03/06/2019)

The third school visit saw a closer and friendlier bond developing within the Confucius Hall Secondary School (CHSS) football team, which has further assured Kwan sir that football is the ideal recipe for creating an inclusive learning environment without prejudice. Kwan sir had once considered introducing the concept of elite football at the school; however, after joining the Scheme, he realised that football is more than skills training – it also develops students’ endurance and life skills. 

  • A closer and friendlier bond developing within the Confucius Hall Secondary School (CHSS) football team proved that football is the ideal recipe for creating an inclusive learning environment without prejudice.
    A closer and friendlier bond developing within the Confucius Hall Secondary School (CHSS) football team proved that football is the ideal recipe for creating an inclusive learning environment without prejudice.
  • Kwan sir realised that football is more than skills training – it also develops students’ endurance and life skills.
    Kwan sir realised that football is more than skills training – it also develops students’ endurance and life skills.

Over the past eight months of school visits, inter-school friendly matches, and the School Football Development Day, Kwan sir has seen all students – regardless of their race and football skill level – benefiting from the activities. They all showed improvement, and the number of students attending football training has also increased: “Simple ideas such as courteous handshakes that were introduced by Christopher O’Brien at the beginning of the school visit, as well as the habit of tidying up the equipment after training, can be useful in their daily lives. The Scheme has also taught them the right attitude when facing victories and losses in games, which can be absolutely inspirational as they grow up, and which will help them to face life’s highs and lows with the courage to overcome difficulties.”

  • The number of students attending football training in CHSS has increased.
    The number of students attending football training in CHSS has increased.
  • The Manchester United Soccer School “Believe” prize presented by Christopher O’Brien reaffirms Kwan sir’s determination to inspire the younger generation through football.
    The Manchester United Soccer School “Believe” prize presented by Christopher O’Brien reaffirms Kwan sir’s determination to inspire the younger generation through football.

Also a coach of a district football team, Kwan sir is aware of the fact that once on the pitch, only the strong survive. However, he does not believe that skills are the only benchmark that defines a player’s success: “If we are lucky, perhaps we can train up one or two students to become professional football players, but that does not mean the rest of the students are worthless – at least I don’t think so. Skills may fade over time, but what benefits them for life are the right values and attitudes, as well as other personal capabilities. It is my ambition to teach students irrespective of their background and to never give up on them. I try my very best to help them develop and grow.”

With such faith in young people, Kwan sir has been awarded the Manchester United Soccer School “Believe” prize, presented to him by Christopher O’Brien at the Scheme’s graduation ceremony. The award reaffirms his determination to inspire the younger generation through football; first at CHSS, then in the community, and ultimately he hopes to contribute to the development of football and the next generation in Hong Kong.

Featured Activities

Featured Activities

Sharing happiness with school teachers, coaches and students through various football activities

Participating Schools

Participating Schools

List of schools participating in the programme

Photo Album

Photo Album

Snapshots of School Coaches