Diocesan Boys’ School won the boys’ A-Grade Inter-School Football Competition (Division One – Hong Kong Island and Kowloon) after beating West Island School 2-0 in the final. Diocesan Boys’ School (DBS) were crowned champions after they beat West Island School (WIS) 2-0 in the final of the boys’ A-Grade Inter-School Football Competition (Division One – Hong Kong Island and Kowloon).
The two teams were tied 0-0 after the first half of a fiercely contested game at Shek Kip Mei Park on Monday. Although DBS played a very aggressive game, WIS’s defence was able to ward off their attacks.
DBS coach Fung Hoi-man said the team had trouble scoring in the first half because it took them a while to calm down and get into the game.
In the second half, however, DBS team captain Sun Ming-him, 16, scored twice to secure the championship, sparking celebrations among his teammates and fans.
“I didn’t expect to score two goals so it was incredible and exciting,” said Ming-him. “Winning the final means our tactics and preparation paid off.”
He told Young Post that they focused more on tactics such as man-to-man marking, because WIS was technically and physically stronger. Ming-him said he told his defenders not to surge forward too much and focus on not letting their opponents score.
Coach Fung said his team practised certain skills in the run-up to the championship clash. “In the week leading up to the final, our training was mainly about how to deal with dead ball situations [when players get a free kick]. They created many chances for us to score,” he said. “Another tactic was to play a high-pressing game, which put enormous pressure on our opponents. I’m happy with how my team performed.”
Ming-him said the competition helped him learn about the importance of teamwork and good communication with his players. “These skills will play an important role for us as we prepare for next year’s All Hong Kong Schools Jing Ying Football Tournament, because last year’s champions, YCH Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School, is a formidable adversary,” he said.
Last year Ming-him played in the boys’ B-Grade Inter-School Football Competition. When he found out that his school’s A-Grade team had been beaten by Hong Kong International School (HKIS) in the final, he was determined to take home this year’s title.
DBS proved their supremacy when they remained undefeated in this year’s preliminary and knock-out games. In the semi-finals, DBS gained sweet revenge when they beat HKIS 7-6 after a penalty shoot-out.
“That victory over HKIS really boosted our confidence, but WIS is also famous for its speed and technique,” said Ming-him. “Our preparation stressed tactics and team co-ordination, and today’s results showed that it worked. I’m thankful for my team’s effort.”