Charity Football Tournament Brings Hope and Community to Hong Kong's Marginalised
SCMP · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A charity football tournament in Hong Kong on Monday offered marginalised communities a temporary respite from the stresses of their daily lives. Held at Kings Park, the seven-a-side Home and Away Charity Football Tournament brought together 16 teams and approximately 250 players to raise funds and awareness for Branches of Hope (BoH), a non-governmental organisation serving refugees, asylum seekers, and human trafficking survivors in Hong Kong. The event was expected to generate more than HK$1 million (US$127,000) for good causes.
Key Points
- The tournament took place at Kings Park on Monday, October 20, 2026, featuring 16 teams and about 250 players competing in a seven-a-side format
- Organised to raise funds for Branches of Hope (BoH), the event aimed to collect over HK$1 million, accounting for approximately 10 percent of BoH's annual income
- Irving Choi, BoH's partnerships manager, described the tournament as the organisation's annual opportunity to spread its message about supporting vulnerable communities
- A 39-year-old Hope United player, who fled Uganda eight months ago and is seeking asylum in Hong Kong, shared how the event helped him feel like he "fitted in with society"
- Competing teams included corporate groups, friends' teams, a team from the Christian Action Centre for Refugees (CACR), and a BoH representative team
Why It Matters
The tournament highlights how community sports events can bridge social divides and provide mental health benefits for people who often face discrimination and isolation. For BoH, the fundraiser represents a crucial revenue stream that enables continued support for some of Hong Kong's most vulnerable residents, including refugees and trafficking survivors who have limited access to formal assistance programmes .
The tournament highlights how community sports events can bridge social divides and provide mental health benefits for people who often face discrimination and isolation. For BoH, the fundraiser represents a crucial revenue stream that enables continued support for some of Hong Kong's most vulnerable residents, including refugees and trafficking survivors who have limited access to formal assistance programmes .