ASTON VILLA CAPTAIN WRIGHT DETERMINED TO RETAIN HKFC SOCCER SEVENS TITLE
Aston Villa captain James Wright has set his sights on leading his team to a successful defence of the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens when the 25th-anniversary edition of the competition kicks off at Hong Kong Football Club this weekend.
Wright will lead the holders into the competition as Villa chase a record-extending eighth title win with a warning to the other 15 teams in the Main Event of the world-renowned tournament.
"We just want to win," said the 19-year-old goalkeeper, who was part of the line-up that lifted the trophy last year.
"I'm very competitive, and I think that extends throughout the whole squad.
"You don't get on a plane for 12-and-a-half hours to come for a laugh; you come to win the trophy. We did it last year, and we don't want to settle for anything less."
Villa have once again sent a talented squad to Hong Kong that features last year's Player of the Tournament, Omari Kellyman, and defender Finley Munroe, both of whom have made their Premier League debuts for Aston Villa's senior team.
They have been drawn in Group A and will open their campaign on Saturday against West Ham United before facing HKFC Captain's Select and Yau Yee League Select, with the first two finishers advancing to the quarter-finals.
"If you look at our squad, we've got a lot of strong players, and I think we're all optimistic," said Wright.
"We've got three or four players who have experience of the tournament now; we were all new to it last year. We can't do better than last year, but hopefully, we can equal it."
Group B will feature five-time J1 League champions Yokohama F. Marinos, Brighton & Hove Albion, Hong Kong Rangers and Singapore Football Club while Fulham, hosts Hong Kong Football Club, Rangers FC and Hong Kong, China will compete in Group C.
The draw for the Main Event is completed by Leicester City, Newcastle United, last year's runners-up Tai Po and Singapore Cricket Club, who are in Group D.
The event, which kicks off on Friday and runs until Sunday evening, also features the Women's Tournament for the first time, with eight teams competing for the inaugural prize.
"It's super exciting," said Yasmin Sung of Chelsea FC Soccer School, who face Sha Tin Sports Association, Soar 247 FC and Kitchee Sports Club in Group A of the opening round with Hong Kong Football Club, Macau, Grace Citizen and WSE playing in Group B.
"Obviously, we've never had a women's tournament at the HKFC Soccer Sevens, so it's definitely a step forward for women's football.
"We're definitely excited that all the girls who play in the Hong Kong league together can now have a platform to show what women's football is in Hong Kong. We hope we can get more support for women's sport in general and especially women's football."
The weekend is rounded out by the ever-popular Masters Event, with Wallsend Boys Club HK attempting to defend the title they won last year, their second in a row.
They will take on Singapore Cricket Club Masters, Singapore Football Club Masters and Kowloon Cricket Club Vets in Group B while Group A will feature the PFA All Stars, the HKFC Chairman's Select, Ampcontrol Discovery Bay and the HKFC Masters.
Photos - HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens