Kenneth Kwok
A goal for the future

(Courtesy of Kenneth Kwok)

By Scarlett Shi

Kenneth Kwok, 22, is a sports science and leisure management student at The University of Hong Kong. He began playing football when he was 6. He was selected as a member of the South China Youth Team in 1998.
In the same year, he won the title of Omega Sportsboy of the Year. Now he is a member of the Antonhill Soccer Team of Hong Kong.

Question: How did you start playing football?
Answer: My father was a footballer and took part in lots of competitions, including the Olympic Games in 1960. Influenced by him, I thought playing football was quite interesting. Thus, I joined a training course and started playing football.

Q: After you began playing football, did you encounter any difficulties?
A: Yes, hard practice is one of them. Playing football consumes my energy quickly, so sometimes I feel very tired. To me, holding out to the end is a great challenge.
Injuries in football competitions are another obstacle. During a competition in November 2002, I tore a ligament in my right knee.

Q: Where does your inspiration for playing football come from?
A: The joy of victory. I am proud of myself at that very moment. The aspiration of victory spurs me on to greater efforts.
On the other hand, encouragement from my parents is another source of inspiration. They give me strong backing whenever I need them.

Q: How do your parents support you?
A: Whenever I take part in a football match, they watch it carefully and cheer me on. Whenever I have some questions regarding football, my father gives me useful advice. Whenever I get a prize, they appreciate it for a long time.

Q: Who is your hero?
A: My father is always a hero in my heart. He was born in Macau and his family was poor. He studied and worked at the same time.
For leisure, he practiced football by himself. Then he was selected by the South China Football Team and moved to Hong Kong. From then on, he started his career. After experiencing all kinds of hardships, he eventually succeeded.

Q: How do you strike a balance between playing football and learning?
A: Well, time management is very important. I set a schedule every week and everything goes according to it. When I studied in secondary school, I missed about two lessons every month because of football matches.
The situation improved after I entered the university. I chose courses myself and avoided clashes between lessons and football training. I tried to arrange timetables well in order to reach a win-win situation.

Q: What would you choose if an exam clashed with a football match?
A: Hm..., that is really difficult to answer. Maybe I would choose the latter. Although the exam might be as important as the football match, I have my priorities. In my heart, football is always first.

Q: What do you learn from playing football?
A: I have gained a lot and benefited from playing football all my life. As a member of a football team, I have learned that discipline and unity are crucial to the victory of the team.
I learned the art of leadership when I was captain of City University Soccer Team. Furthermore, playing football gives me friendship. I know most of my friends from football fields, and we have a common interest.

Q: You gained something from playing football. Meanwhile, have you lost anything because of it?
A: Yes, before I was injured, I practiced three hours every day. I had little time to be with my parents and date girls.

Q: So, what was your most unforgettable experience?
A: I remember after my team won the Hong Kong Post-Secondary Colleges title last year, we went to Guizhou Province to attend a championship. My team kept up the morale and we were all confident.
However, we lost the game, so we couldn’t enter the final round. When the game was over, all the members of our team, including our coach, cried together. It was the first time that I had seen so many men crying.

Q: What do you think of your life?
A: I enjoy my life now. I study while I play football. I choose my own way of life and I am satisfied with it.

Q: Have you got a motto?
A: Yes. “The clock is ticking, so don’t just stand there.” I saw that on a T-shirt and I liked it.

Q: What is your plan for the future?
A: After I graduate, I am going to find a job related to sports such as sports public relations. I hope to promote the development of sports in Hong Kong.
Furthermore, I am traditional, so I will marry and settle down. I hope one day my wife and my children and I will play sports together.

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