Kowloon City Football Club is partnering with Italian football giants Juventus to cultivate young football talent in Hong Kong. The collaboration aims to provide a "clear pathway" for local players to reach professional leagues in Europe.

Kowloon City, which was promoted to the Hong Kong Premier League last season, is in the second year of a five-year plan to establish itself as a prominent name in Hong Kong sports. According to Vice-Chairman Andrew Mak Yung-pan, the club aims to be a "conveyor belt" for the Hong Kong senior team. Kowloon City has adopted a policy of signing young players with the primary objective of developing them for overseas opportunities.

The partnership involves the Juventus Academy Hong Kong, which is launching this month. As part of this initiative, three coaches from Italy will relocate to Hong Kong to oversee the club's under-14, under-16, and under-18 teams. Mak emphasized that the Juventus Academy is not a franchise model and that all decisions must be approved by Juventus in Turin, with the Asian headquarters of the two-time European champions located in Hong Kong. The club hopes to create a platform to send players abroad early, tailoring placements to their individual characteristics.

Seventeen-year-old Fung Tin-wing, who made nine senior appearances last season, recently received coaching from Spanish World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas at an elite performance summer camp at Serie A club Como. He also trained with South Korean club Pocheon Citizen. Kowloon City will field a team in the under-22 Premier League this season and use First Division RCFC as a bridge for players not yet ready for professional football. Mak stated that the club offers a mentorship program featuring four "non-football pillars," educating youngsters in financial literacy and encouraging them to pursue higher education.

Juventus has a history of engaging with fans and investing in Asia, with a Hong Kong branch serving as its Asian headquarters. The branch aims to understand the needs of Juventus fans in the Asia-Pacific region and build relationships with companies and brands investing in sports and communication. Juventus sees Hong Kong as a strategic platform with an open environment for establishing new operations. The club has a large fan base in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, and partners in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Kowloon City's initiative could significantly impact the development of football in Hong Kong, providing young players with opportunities to train with established European clubs and potentially pursue professional careers abroad. The Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) organizes various competitions from youth level to professional leagues and oversees the Hong Kong representative team. Kowloon City's collaboration with Juventus may strengthen Hong Kong's sports ecosystem and inspire more young athletes to pursue their football dreams.