In some parts of the world, a few die-hard hockey players share their passion, even going so far as to create clubs. From Africa to America via Europe and Asia, focus on these little-known countries in underwater hockey. Third episode with Hong Kong.
In the south-east of Canton, at the end of the Pearl River delta, a former British colony ceded to China in 1997: Hong Kong. Among the 200 islands that make the archipelago, athletes practice underwater hockey in the only club in the territory.
Its creation was initiated by Henry Chan in 2010. Just graduated from an American university, he chose to return to his native land but did not find a club there to practice the sport he discovered in Uncle Sam’s country. He therefore created a Facebook page and managed to bring together eight people, including a few experienced players. « There isn’t a lot of underwater sport in Hong Kong so the media quickly picked up on us. We did a lot of interviews and people quickly came to try. » Finally, the club’s first training took place in the summer of 2015 coached by the Filipino Nowie Ignacio.
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Hong Kong is a stronghold of international trade. As a result, many people in the west temporarily settle in the Pearl of the Orient to work there. Recruits and even coaches, temporary, but who help the development of Hong Kong hockey. « We were able to welcome and be coached by international players like Darren Foo (New Zealand), Liz and Jamie Wedderburn (South Africa) the Marant family (France) including Pedro who coached us before the Hobart youth worlds in 2017… « . The club regularly participates in nearby tournaments like the China Cup and the Asian Championship where they face the national teams of Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and China.
Hong Kong even had a role as Malaysia’s sparring partner before the Sea Games. A privileged relationship between these two formations which is easily explained because the Malaysian coach learned hockey thanks to Nowie Ignacio’s advices. The relationship of the Hong Kong team with clubs in the Middle Empire is also very good. Some Chinese contacts provide them with gloves, club players even come from regions in the north of Hong Kong. « Today I would say that we are made up of 50% locals and 50% foreigners. »
The ghost club
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The club initiaded by Henry is the third club in Hong Kong history. The first was founded in 1980 by expats, but when they left, no one took up the torch. More recently, another team was initiated by the governing bodies of Hong Kong underwater sports, but political and financial problems would have got the better of this club. Yes, underwater hockey also has a political stake.
Disadvantages that continue to disrupt the expansion of hockey in Hong Kong. « The club is not affiliated with CMAS or the Hong Kong Underwater Sports Federation. » Basically, this means that the federation does not represent any club since it does not recognize the only one present in its territory. A huge obstacle to Henry’s dream of competing in the world championships. « We must first be recognized by the national federation but also bring together more players and coaches ». For him, the development model of New Zealand hockey in schools and universities could be a source of inspiration for Hong Kong to make the sport more attractive to young people.
With nearly 100,000 students in eight universities, there is no lack of potential recruits. It remains to be seen whether the club will manage to resolve its problems with the country’s highest authorities so that we can, perhaps one day, see the team participate first of all in the Sea Games and then, why not, in the world championships.
