Football is one of the most popular, widespread and influential sports in the world. It is also a very popular sport in Macao, especially among the youths. In order to comprehensively enhance the skill level of local youth football players, to promote and develop football sport in Macao, and to enrich the youths’ extra curriculum activities, sponsored by Macao Jockey Club and co-organized with the Macao Football Association, the Macao Sport Development Board holds a recruitment and selection day annually to select talented youths to be trained in the football academy and to cultivate backup talents for the local football circle. This year the recruitment was held on 7^th November at Miniature Football Field of the Macao Olympic Centre, and attracted 600 youths and parents to participate.

For better understanding of the skills being tested, the organizer specially arranged the students of the football academy to demonstrate for the youths all of the skills being tested. The participants were divided into 5 groups to be tested: groups A, B, C, and D for male and group E for female. Skills being tested include: football sense, dribble, shooting and speed dribble. All tests were graded by the football coach team qualified with Asian Football Confederation accredited B- or C-class certificate from the youth football academy.

This year, 350 students were recruited, with age ranging from 5 to 12. They will receive systematic football trainings including basic knowledge and techniques, advanced skills and tactics practices, given by experienced coaches and supported with excellent facilities; in the pursuit of cultivating the next generation of successors of the football circle and to promote football sport in Macao.

Representatives from different authorities were present to show their support for the participants, including Vong Iao Lek, President of the Sport Development Board, Lo Keng Chio, President of the Sports and Olympic Committee of Macao, China, Chong Coc Veng and Chang Chin Nam, President of the Executive Board and President of the Supervisory Board of the Macao Football Association respectively.