Legends Head to Hong Kong
After a four-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, the prestigious Chinese New Year Cup football tournament will once again grace the Hong Kong Stadium on February 13, 2024 (Tuesday, the fourth day of the Chinese New Year). This highly anticipated event is proudly sponsored by FWD Insurance and co-organized by The Football Association of Hong Kong, China.
The tournament will feature an exciting exhibition match between the World Legends and Hong Kong Legends.
Seven World Cup champions, Rivaldo, Carles Puyol, Marco Materazzi, Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti, Robert Pires and David Villa, accompanied by their fellow team-mates from the World Legends Team, attended a pre-match press conference today to extend Chinese New Year greetings to Hong Kong fans and express their anticipation for showcasing their skills to the game's spectators.
The World Legends team arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, with many of them enjoying the Chinese New Year fireworks last night. The 17-member World Legends squad gathered for the pre-match press conference, thrilling enthusiastic fans today.
Among the star-studded team, "Il Capitano" Totti, who is visiting Hong Kong for the first time, was thrilled by the city's dramatic skyline and amazing fireworks display and expressed his anticipation of tasting traditional Chinese New Year delicacies whilst in Hong Kong.
He also expressed his eagerness to meet all the enthusiastic fans at the Hong Kong Stadium in the FWD Insurance Chinese New Year Cup.
Mr. Paul Tse, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of FWD Hong Kong & Macau, said, "FWD Insurance has always worked hand in hand with the people of Hong Kong and the many various sectors of the HK community. With our customer-centred approach and strategy, we are dedicated to enhancing our products and services through digital technology as we continue to advocate "changing the way people feel about insurance".
FWD Insurance aims to make a positive impact within the local community and strengthen public interest in sports development through the sponsorship of major events. We aim to create more opportunities for football fans and citizens to discover their passion for sports and enjoy vibrant sporting experiences in celebrating a happy and healthy lifestyle!"
Mr. Paul J. Kam, Chairman of ProEvents Group said, "ProEvents Management Limited will endeavour, as in previous years, to deliver a highly-successful and enjoyable FWD Chinese New Year Cup.
This event represents such a prominent local footballing occasion for fans and we aim to ensure a thrilling match experience. In this latest exciting fixture in the tournament, spectators can delight in watching so many former World Cup champions showcase their skills at the Hong Kong Stadium. Our very own local football legends are also ready and eager to challenge themselves against these esteemed world champions, making for a truly exhilarating match that symbolizes a promising start to the New Year.
"Football has the power to unite people and we warmly welcome the football legends in visiting Hong Kong during the Chinese New Year. We thank FWD Insurance in sponsoring the event.
We also appreciate that, besides the match itself, FWD has also organised a range of charitable activities that engage with the local community, featuring local football coaches and players with the assistance of the Hong Kong Professional Footballers Association; and for also inviting their regional colleagues and business partners to visit and experience Hong Kong."
Mr. Johnny Ho, Chief Executive Officer of Johnny's Group, Director of Song Entertainment Limited, announced they will be donating complimentary tickets through Yan Chai Hospital to Hong Kong primary and secondary school students as well as to disadvantaged families in the community.
The charitable initiative aims to allow with widest representation of the community to enjoy the event during the New Year period, Mr. Ho explained. "The Chinese New Year is an immensely important festival for the people of Hong Kong," he remarked. "On this joyous occasion, we hope to provide the opportunity for individuals from all backgrounds to come together at the Hong Kong Stadium and witness this thrilling football match featuring world-class champions. Together, we can all experience and celebrate the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year."