As the squad get down to work in Hong Kong, our Global Football Development (GFD) are already making their mark as part of our takeover of the iconic AIA Vitality Park, in collaboration with our Global Principal Partner AIA.
Our renowned GFD team's football clinics and sessions are one of the highlights of our six-day takeover of the community-focused events and activation space located at the Hong Kong Observation Wheel on the Central Harbourfront in Hong Kong.
Since launching in 2013, our partnership with AIA has been focused towards helping people live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives, with coaches from our GFD team permanently based in Hong Kong and delivering a range of coaching programmes for AIA communities across Asia.
One of those coaches is Shannon Moloney, one of the players who was part of Spurs Women's journey from the regional leagues to the WSL, now our Head of International Development (APAC) based in Asia, a Brand Ambassador for AIA, and an integral member of the GFD team the region.
Shannon has already been passing her wealth of playing and coaching knowledge to visitors to AIA Vitality Park.
She told us: "I've been with AIA for five years and what we look to do throughout Asia is promote healthy lives through football. In the past five years, we've engaged with 150,000 people face to face, from youngsters to coaches.
"We embed our Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Development philosophy into every market we go to. It's so important for us to be able to help other coaches and other football associations to help develop their football structures and pathways.
"For us, it's about engaging with as many people as possible and giving them not only memorable experiences, but the information and knowledge to support their passion and development of the game whatever level they are working at.
"Working with AIA and Tottenham Hotspur, for me, it's the best partnership. It's amazing. I see AIA everywhere, Tottenham Hotspur everywhere, and for the communities here it's so exciting to have our first team here to be able to show them this fantastic city and play the first north London derby outside the UK in the brand-new Kai Tak Stadium."
Take a trip with Shannon on the Observation Wheel!
Head of GFD, Danny Mitchell, added: "It’s brilliant to be back in Hong Kong showcasing our Global Football Development programmes as part of the work we are doing at AIA Vitality Park.
"Hong Kong is where our coaches are based as part of our AIA partnership, so to be here with them is a great experience for us.
"We support AIA‘s football projects across South-East Asia to help promote football as a tool for players to live healthier, longer and better lives as well as bring our Global Football Development philosophy to the region to support the growth of the game locally."
Back at AIA Vitality Park, fans will have the chance to take on football-based challenges, putting their skills to the test against benchmarks set by our Men’s First Team – from Micky van de Ven’s blistering speed, Lucas Bergvall’s pinpoint passing, Cristian Romero’s aerial dominance, and Guglielmo Vicario’s lightning-fast reflexes. A live leaderboard over the six days will heighten the competitive atmosphere, showcasing the best performers, with the prize of a signed shirt included for the winners.