Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre

Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre ((traditional Chinese (HK))將軍澳足球訓練中心) is a proposed national football training centre at Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, Hong Kong.

In 2002, the Hong Kong Football Association announced a plan to build a National Football Training Centre at a closed landfill in Tseung Kwan O. It was going to be the first of its kind in Hong Kong and expected to be completed by 2008 with a $103-million grant from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.^[1] But it never got off the ground.

In 2012, under new Chief Executive Officer Mark Sutcliffe and Project Phoenix, the HKFA have recognized the importance of the centre and it is discussing sponsorship with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to finance the centre's construction.^[2] The HKFA will work with the Government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club to develop the business plan and site master plan for this much needed facility. Mark Sutcliffe hopes that the work done in 2013 will enable a start on construction in early 2014.^[3]

On 17 November 2015, Mark Sutcliffe said HK$133 million in funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been agreed for the construction, which is due to start in 2016. A consultant company will be appointed to oversee the construction project which will see three natural turf pitches and three artificial turf pitches to be built on the landfill site. The government has also released the land which was previously held under the Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme.^[4]

Facilities

The centre will be built with both natural grass and artificial turf pitches. It will become the main training ground for the Hong Kong national football team and youth teams. There will also include supporting facilities such as physiotherapy centre, classrooms, gymnasium and hostel.^[5] HKFA also agreed to open artificial turf pitches to the public at free period with a lower maintenance cost.

References