Four staff from the Hong Kong Football Association (Hong Kong FA), including the CEO Mark Sutcliffe, visited the J.League as well as the JFA, attending some courses, in order to get some ideas about how to improve the Hong Kong League from 20 August to 23 August.

On the morning of 21 August, they listened to lectures delivered by the JFA about Japanese women’s football and grass-root activities, and moved onto another lecture hosted by the J.League to learn basic principles, the league structure, and broadcasting rights, as well as the club licences.

On 22 August, they visited a home game of Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002, so that they could see the professional club team management. Thanks to the hospitality of Urawa Reds, they looked around and analysed the management area before the match against Vegalta Sendai.

Schedule

Hong Kong FA comments

Mark SUTCLIFFE CEO
Through this visit, we could see how to improve the Hong Kong League. Although some measures, which the J.League are taking, are a little too advanced for us, there are others we can try. So I’d like to adjust them to the Hong Kong way.

We did this trip to learn about the J.League, but I’d like to come back again to see about the national team next time. I became very fond of Japan after this trip. I appreciate all arrangements made by the staff of the JFA and the J.League. Thank you so much.

Paul WOODLAND Head of Football Development
Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to all the staff of the JFA and the J.League. I was impressed very much with the resource of the Japan Football Association. We definitely need the JFA’s help to improve Hong Kong football. I do hope we can work together through some kind of the partnership.