Sports SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2016 Chan makes history as female coach of champion men’s team

HONG KONG: At age 27, Chan Yuen-ting is younger than several of the players she coaches at Eastern Sports Club yet she has already secured a unique place for her- self in soccer history by becoming the first woman to lead a men’s team to a top-division national champi- onship. Chan took charge at Eastern in December, with the club not having won the Hong Kong league for 21 years, and last month the team clinched that elusive title and made their female coach the talk of the town. “I’m really lucky,” Chan said to SNTV. “Now I make his- tory and then no one think that will happen in Hong Kong. I have to say thanks to the club that they trust me, give me support and also player encourage me a lot this season.” Chan had impediments in her path: a family that was skeptical of her career choice, conservative views about women’s involvement in men’s sports, and her own anx- ieties about whether she could command authority with players who were often verbally- and occasionally phys- ically - aggressive. “When I was like, maybe, 13 years old, and I wanted to play football, my family didn’t allow it, because in Chinese culture, girls or woman shouldn’t play football, you should go to dance or you go to draw something, something like this,” Chan said. A couple of years after that knockback by her family, Chan forged her mother’s signature on a form to apply for a summer training program, and joined her local club at Sha Tin. Though her path into the sport, and her subsequent climb to the top of the game in Hong Kong, SEATTLE: In this Jan 18, 2015, file photo, ’ catches a pass during the second half was littered with hurdles, her initial inspiration to get of the NFL football NFC Championship game against the . — AP involved in soccer was a common one for teenage girls at the time - a love for David Beckham. And her ardor and respect for the former Manchester Beast Mode silent as Seattle United and England great has not dimmed. “Why I play football is because I love David Beckham,” Chan said. puts Lynch on retired list “Yeah, every time I want to quiz something, I watch Beckham’s match video and just try to get some mes- RENTON: Beast Mode is in retirement early in the 2010 season, he was “Since I’ve been here he’s been the sage or positive energy, messages from him.” mode. The Seattle Seahawks placed acquired because the Seahawks des- heart and soul, the engine of our Eastern’s title win gives it a shot at next year’s Asian running back Marshawn Lynch on the perately needed a running back. What offense. A vocal leader. A great influ- Champions League, and club bosses have promised to NFL’s reserve/retired list Thursday, mak- he ended up providing was an attitude ence and one of the best teammates invest in the squad to pursue further success in 2017, ing official what was implied in and style that became the foundation I’ve ever had,” Seattle but Chan has ambitions beyond Hong Kong. February when Lynch indicated he was for bringing that first title Doug Baldwin said last month of “I want to go to another country, maybe just as an ready to end his football career. to the franchise. Lynch. “I can’t say enough about him.” assistant coach to get more knowledge,” Chan said. The star running back was placed on And for that, Lynch will forever hold Along with what Lynch provided “Hong Kong football level is not very high compared the list Thursday. It was a procedural a special place with the Seahawks. He on the field came his peculiarities with like Japan, Korea or even we go other country UK, step, but one that needed to be taken may have been more of a headache when he wasn’t carrying the ball. His US, so if I have chance I want to go out. And I want to to make Lynch’s intended retirement off the field than anyone let on during contract disputes. His avoidance of learn something and then bring something to Hong official. Lynch stole attention from the his time in Seattle, but he’ll ultimately the media. His memorable perform- Kong football.” —AP fourth quarter of the Super Bowl in be lauded as the running back that ances during two Super Bowl weeks February when he posted a picture on got the Seahawks to a place they had that became as much a topic as the with a pair of green football never been. Lynch will step aside after game itself: “I’m just here so I won’t cleats hanging from a telephone or nine seasons in the league. Six of get fined.” And during his injury-filled electrical wire. His agent confirmed a those came in Seattle, where he final season, ruling himself out of day later that Lynch intended to retire. played in the postseason five times. Seattle’s NFC wild-card game at Seattle made a series of moves this off- He’s second all-time in Seattle history Minnesota just minutes before the season that indicated the running back for rushing and fourth in team left for the airport. who led the Seahawks to their first yards rushing. He tied for the NFL lead There was almost certainly going to Super Bowl title was ready to step in rushing touchdowns in 2013 and be a separation between Lynch and away, including picking three running 2014 and is No. 8 all-time in total the Seahawks after the 2015 season backs in the NFL draft last week. Lynch yards rushing during the postseason. for financial and evolutionary reasons. would have been an $11.5 million cap He was an All-Pro, a selec- Seattle was always going to become hit if he remained on Seattle’s roster for tion, and perhaps the most revered ’s team moving forward the 2016 season. The Seahawks will Seahawks player in the opinion of - the nature of a quarterback with a save $6.5 million with Lynch’s retire- their fans. long-term contract agreement - and ment. Lynch has spent the offseason Lynch concluded his career with Wilson’s performance last season promoting his clothing line, traveling to 9,112 yards rushing and 74 touch- showed the evolution was in process. Egypt to participant in a football camp downs in the regular season, and But Lynch’s will always be responsible and ride camels, and doing relief work another nine touchdowns in the post- for setting the foundation for what in Haiti. Basically doing everything but season. He caused seismic activity coach wanted to create with get ready for the upcoming NFL season. with his tackle-shedding run against the Seahawks. “He’s a dog. His whole HONG KONG: Eastern Sports Club head coach Chan New Orleans in the 2010 playoffs and demeanor,” Seattle safety Yuen-ting, right, talks to her teammates during a train- Attitude and style was rarely brought down by just one said before Super Bowl 49. “He’s a man ing session. — AP When Lynch was brought to Seattle defender. (among) boys out there.” —AP