SOTY 2023/24: From Kitchee Academy to Spain, Hong Kong teen footballer aims for World Cup

“St Joseph’s College had not won a football championship for 20 to 30 years. We were honoured to win both the Hong Kong and Jing Ying championships that year,” Chun-him said.

The final against Diocesan Boys’ School was a roller coaster of emotions.

He recalled: “We were leading, then caught up, fell behind, and despite playing one man down due to a foul, we caught up and won on penalties.”

The sheer thrill of the game was an experience to remember.

“This experience taught me not to give up easily. The team’s persistence paid off in the last stage of the game, and we won on a penalty shoot-out,” he recounted. Chun-him was named the tournament’s MVP, making the victory even more memorable.

He said balancing academic pressure with semi-professional football has been challenging, “especially during Form Five last year. The academic pressure was high before the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination”.

“Balancing my studies and training was exhausting. At times, I questioned if it was the right decision, feeling neither here nor there and doubting myself.”

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The fatigue affected the quality of his training, leading to criticism and increased pressure. The days were also very long, as he would have to leave school in the morning for training, return to class, and often train more after school.

Despite these challenges, his father has always been on his side.

“My dad was always supportive of my football endeavours, never opposing my choice to play,” Chun-him said. “Even now, as I approach a semi-professional level, he views this path as my own. He only requires that I pursue a university education, which is a basic expectation.”

Chun-him is grateful for the unwavering support he receives from St Joseph’s College. The school goes the extra mile to accommodate his football commitments, providing make-up classes and individual help from teachers to catch up on missed work. This support system has been instrumental in his journey.

His achievements have brought him personal satisfaction and sparked interest among his classmates at school.

“After returning from overseas competitions, I share my experiences with curious classmates, sparking their interest in football. Some of my friends who didn’t initially play started showing interest, and a few even began supporting the Hong Kong Premier League,” he noted. His journey has inspired others to pursue their passions.

Chun-him is thrilled about training in Spain with Club de Futbol Amposta U19 this year, during which he will take a one-year leave from school.

“Spain has a rich football history, and their youth training is renowned, especially after Spain’s recent Euro Cup victory,” he said. “I hope to play well this year and strive for higher levels of competition.”

Chun-him’s impressive achievements and commitment to football won him the second runner-up in the Sportsperson category at last year’s prestigious student of the Year (SOTY) awards, which were organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Having played for so long, Chun-him aspires to become a full-time professional footballer.

“I want to represent Hong Kong in Asian competitions or even the World Cup, which has been a dream since childhood,” he said.