【News Buddy】港欖邁新階  接班人初露鋒芒

【原文】摘錄自2024年4月7日香港《文匯報》：香港欖球即將邁向新的里程碑，除了下屆香港國際七人欖球賽將移師新落成的啟德體育園舉行外，港欖男女隊亦同樣踏入改朝換代的新階段，男隊在一代名將姚錦成逐漸淡出下迎來房傑鋒的上位，女隊則有年僅20歲的巴達莎米奇拉嶄露頭角，成為支撐港欖未來的新力量，對首次踏足大球場的翼鋒房傑鋒來說，終能感受到走出大球場球員通道、場上奔跑被歡呼聲震撼的滋味，足以回味一輩子。

作為年度體壇盛事，球迷在周六早上已蜂擁入場觀賽，中午的南看台近乎坐滿下氣氛熾熱。場外狂歡暢飲熱烈歡呼，場內一眾球員為己隊而戰，全力衝刺達陣。坐擁主場之利的男女子港隊在周五晚首戰，均擊退國家隊打開勝門，周六分別對日本和泰國。

港隊在主場觀眾歡呼下登場，蔡紀駿在開賽2分半鐘擺脫日本對手達陣，以7：0領先，惟上半場被對手追平，易邊後未能保持控球的港隊極速失守，被拉開至7：19。即使靴貝特為港隊追至14：19，但日本隊在末段數度突破重圍達陣，港隊終以14：33告負。

苦候7年終能踏上大球場，出戰首屆國際七欖的房傑鋒，是隊中唯一華將連續兩場正選上陣。首度以港隊身份走入大球場，現場球迷的叫囂和歡呼，讓他震撼得無法自拔。就像以往「七欖」港將所言，大球場的球員通道總是獨特的，今屆他終能感受到走出通道被歡呼聲包圍的感覺。「房傑」笑言：「在通道等出場個心『卜卜跳』，跑出來好興奮好震撼，望到觀眾又會忍不住笑，但之後便立即集中起來。」接受大球場環迴立體的掌聲、歡呼聲洗禮，第一次感受到真正主場優勢，「好多觀眾支持我們，一有停頓就聽到呼喊『香港』、『香港』，還有一有判罰就聽到噓聲，成件事好搞笑。」他回味笑道。

不僅是躋身名單於大球場亮相，連續兩場正選上陣對以往長列後備的「房傑」來說，別具意義，「好少會正選，個壓力會更大，以往後備可以用那7分鐘調節，教練一早為我定下目標，正選上陣要立即畀到貨。」最終這名國際七欖「初哥」不負眾望，讓姚錦成都對其表現感到驚喜。

對於同樣司職翼鋒、被冠以「姚錦成接班人」稱號的房傑鋒，阿成對其表現感滿意：「都好驚喜，因為第一次打國際七欖真的會過分緊張的，個心會跳了出來般，這會令體能都減了一半，但他能捱到第二場下半場，都勁喎，好滿意。平常沒經驗的球員好快半場已被擊潰，所以都好欣賞他的態度。」

阿成似乎能安心退位讓後輩接班，他強調完成銀劍賽後真正退役，專注在欖球總會的推廣工作，「這是我想做的事，推動更多華人打欖球，希望見到更多下一個姚錦成、下一個李卡度，有下一個華人。」這名36歲老將感慨地寄語後輩說：「要堅持，無論哪個運動都不要輕易放棄現在所擁有的，珍惜張家朗、李慧詩等建立的資源，香港運動發展其實好成功，一個小小的城市已超越好多國家，不要浪費這個環境。」

Hong Kong Rugby moves into a new phase, successor exceeds expectations

【譯文】Hong Kong Rugby is heading towards a new milestone. In addition to the next Hong Kong Sevens, which will be held at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium, the men's and women's rugby teams are also entering a new phase of change, with the men's team seeing the gradual fading out of the generation of famous player, Yiu Kam-Shing, and the women's team seeing 20-year-old Micayla Baltazar take over as a new force to support the future of Hong Kong Rugby. For Fong, who is making his debut at the Stadium, the experience of walking out of the players' tunnel and running on the pitch, being rocked by the cheers, will be remembered for the rest of his life.

Fans flocked to the Stadium on Saturday morning as an annual sports event, and the South Stand was nearly complete at noon. Outside the Stadium, there was a lot of drinking and cheering, while inside the Stadium, the players were fighting for their teams and rushing for touchdowns. Both the men's and women's Hong Kong teams, with the advantage of playing at home, beat their national teams in their opening matches on Friday night to open the scoring, and they will face Japan and Thailand on Saturday.

The Hong Kong team took to the field to the home crowd's cheers. Choi Kee Chun scored a try in the first two and a half minutes of the match to take a 7:0 lead. Still, the opponents tied the first half. After the change of ends, Hong Kong could not maintain possession of the ball, lost ground quickly, and was pulled back to 7:19. Even though Boots Bate brought Hong Kong back to 14:19, Japan broke through several times at the end of the match to score a touchdown, and Hong Kong team finally lost to 14:33.

Fong Kit Fung, the only Chinese player in the squad to start two consecutive matches in the first-ever Sevens, finally stepped onto the pitch after seven years of hard work. He was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the fans at the Stadium for the first time as a member of the Hong Kong team. Just like the Seven Olives Hong Kong General said in the past, the players' tunnel at the Stadium is always unique, and this year, he finally felt the feeling of walking out of the tunnel and being surrounded by cheering fans. "Fong Kit "laughed and said, "My heart was pounding as I waited in the tunnel for the players to come out. I was so excited and shocked to come out, and I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the crowd, but then I focused immediately." He was baptized by the applause and cheers that surrounded the Stadium. For the first time, he felt the real home advantage, "The crowd was so supportive of us, and when there was a pause, we heard chants of 'Hong Kong' , and when there was a penalty, we heard boos, which was hilarious," he laughed in remembrance.

Not only did he make it to the Stadium, but playing in two consecutive matches in the main draw was particularly meaningful for Fong, who had been a longtime reserve in the past. "It's not often that I play in the main draw, and the pressure is even greater. "Ultimately, the Sevens starter lived up to his reputation and surprised Yao Kam-shing with his performance.

As for Fong Kit Fung, who is also a flanker and has been labelled as "Yiu Kam Shing's successor", Ah Shing was satisfied with his performance: "I am shocked because the first time I played in the Sevens, I was nervous and my heart would jump out of my chest, which would reduce my energy level by half, but he managed to last until the second half of the second match. Usually, inexperienced players would be crushed in the halftime, so I appreciate his attitude."

Shing is at peace with stepping aside and letting his younger generation take over. He emphasized that he will retire after the completion of the Silver Sword tournament and focus on the promotion of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), "This is what I want to do, to encourage more Chinese to play rugby, and I hope to see the next Yiu Kam Shing, the next Lee Caddow, and the following Chinese. "The 36-year-old veteran sent an emotional message to his juniors: "Be persistent, don't give up what you have now, no matter which sport you play. Cherish the resources that Cheung Ka-long, Lee Wai-Sze, etc, have built up. Hong Kong's sports development is very successful, and this small city has already surpassed many countries."

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