Most 19-year-olds spend their first year of university just figuring out how to live away from home. Chan Shing Chun is doing that while breaking into the Kitchee First Team. It’s a rare double life: training to be a professional footballer by day and a dentistry student by night.
Chan joined the Kitchee Academy at nine. This season, the dream became a job. Pre-season in Thailand was a wake-up call. "I was so excited. It’s my first time playing with such experienced, international players", he says. Spending 24 hours a day in a pro environment wasn't just about football; it was the total discipline of dieting, rest, and gym work. He saw firsthand that at this level, everyone knows their job.
He didn’t have to wait long for his chance. In the season opener against Eastern, he replaced captain Tan Chun Lok in the 74th minute. "I wasn’t particularly nervous", he admits. That game changed his perspective. He realized the coach didn't care about his age—only his ability.
The momentum didn't last. An injury forced Chan to the sidelines, a frustrating period of rehab. The pain persisted as he tried to play in the U-22 League. He made a mature call to take a three-week break to rest properly. It was the right move—he scored in his first game back.
Outside the stadium, Chan is a dentistry student at The University of Hong Kong. Moving into dorms was his introduction to the "adult world". At home, his family handled everything. Now, he manages his own meals, tidies his room, and even tutors for extra income.
Chan is not rushing to lock in one path. "I want to keep being a footballer and studying dentistry," he says. "I will try my very best to balance the two." At 19, Chan is discovering that he doesn't need to pick a favorite dream; he’s just busy living them both.
The original article was published in the matchday program for Kitchee vs Lee Man in the Hong Kong Premier League on April 18, 2026.