★      Introduction ★

FC Barcelona and Kitchee jointly established the FCBEscola Hong Kong, designed to develop promising young football players locally.  This is the first school that FC Barcelona has established in Asia Pacific after the inauguration of similar institutes in Europe, Mexico, Middle East and USA. 

This is also the first time FC Barcelona cooperating with a local professional football team to provide a free-of-charge, merit-based program, by removing the ability-to-pay as an entrance condition.  Moreover, the program is also open to all qualified pupils who may play for any teams, schools, or Districts in Hong Kong without restrictions.  The Hong Kong program is using the model in the Barcelona Academy where a number of the top European players have honed their football skills in their grass-root program, such as Messi, Giovani, Pujol, Iniesta, Xavi, Valdes and Fabregas.  The objectives of FCBEscola are centred on two basic ideas: teaching the basic concepts of football and transmitting the values that represent FC Barcelona and Kitchee, such as tolerance, respect, solidarity, companionship, citizenship, integration, etc.  Through football, the children are taught to respect individual’s basic rights and freedom, guided by the principles of coexistence and fair play. 

In order to raise the quality of the program, Kitchee has employed Mr. Josep Gombau as the Head Coach of the first team.  Josep came to Hong Kong with 8 years of experience at FC Barcelona in their Academy and at FCBEscola.  He will also direct the training at FCBEscola Hong Kong to ensure that the program is up to the standard set by FC Barcelona. 

As of September, 2009, FCBEscola Hong Kong provides free training to more than 200 children between the age of 6 and 14, i.e., those born between 1995 and 2003, who must first pass a selection process.