Hong Kong Football Thread (R)

Friendly:

Guizhou Renhe 1:2 South China

 

South China Morning Post

Eastern Salon coach Cordeiro dismisses title hopes despite big win

Chan Kin-wa

Eastern Salon enjoyed their biggest win in the RedMR First Division this season, a 4-1 victory over 10-man Royal Southern on Sunday, but coach Cristiano Cordeiro admitted it was too late to give them any hopes of a title surge.

Ip Chung-long had put the visitors ahead in the first half at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, but the newly promoted side replied with four goals after the break, two in the closing stages after Southern midfielder Ngan Lok-fung was shown a straight red for a bad tackle on Diego Moreira.

"It was a small pitch and difficult to play," said the Eastern coach. "We upped the tempo after the break and passed the ball more to break their defence and the effort paid off."

Eastern are tied with Sun Pegasus on 19 points, but Kitchee are well ahead at the top on 31, followed by South China (24).

"I don't think we have any chance in the championship. It's already too late as half the season has gone," added Cordeiro. "But we want to give the team a target and that's why we still sign new players at this stage.

"There is the FA Cup and the Play-off Cup for next year's AFC Cup berth, both of which give us motivation for the rest of the season."

Giovane da Silva equalised in the 52nd minute, before Roberto Fronza converted a penalty four minutes later.

Australian striker Dylan Macallister had a dream start for Eastern when he was brought on late in the second half. Yago Gonzalez's clearance fell straight to him; the former Melbourne Heart player took the gift without hesitation to put Eastern 3-1 up with seven minutes left. Da Silva rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute.

Another new signing, Liang Zicheng, also impressed on the left after coming on in the second half.

 

Kitchee signed Spanish striker Diego Cascon.

Strange decision if you ask me, as the team already have many foreign strikers.

 

South China Morning Post

Funding decision for Kai Tak sports complex 'is best move', say sports chiefs
Officials from associations praise government for footing HK$19 billion cost, saying that it will help save time and money

Alvin Sallay

The government's decision to foot the total estimated HK$19 billion cost of the Kai Tak sports complex will save time and money, top Hong Kong sports officials said.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying also earned praise for reiterating the importance of the project in his January policy address.

"We are very grateful to the chief executive for once again pledging that the Kai Tak sports hub will go ahead, as there were still some people doubting that it would be built," said Trevor Gregory, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union chairman.

"And it is excellent to hear that the government has sorted out the financing model to build it and fund it themselves. This is fantastic that things are now starting to move ahead."

Hong Kong Football Association chief executive Mark Sutcliffe was delighted. "It is best to use public funding if the government can afford it and it is good to hear they will fund the project," said Sutcliffe. "The reassurance made by the chief executive in his policy address is also timely."

A laborious process to decide whether to fund the multibillion-dollar project alone - or in partnership with the private sector, as Singapore has done with its Sports Hub, which is scheduled to open in April - has finally ended.

Jonathan McKinley, deputy secretary for Home Affairs, said: "It was decided more time would be lost if we went with a private partner. Finding the right partner would have meant another year or so lost, and as such it was decided that as time is money - with building costs going up all the time - the government will fund the capital costs."

In his policy speech, Leung said: "The Multi-purpose Sports Complex at Kai Tak is a major sports project. The government will continue to accord priority to its planning and maintain close liaison with stakeholders, with a view to commencing advance works for the project in 2015."

McKinley said swift progress was being made now that the funding mechanism had been determined. Earlier in January, the Legislative Council was briefed on the Kai Tak sports complex and that it was consistent with the government's sports policy

"Apart from Legco, we have also briefed the Harbourfront Commission as well as the three district councils involved - Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon City. All the districts are supportive of the project," McKinley said.

But there had been a few dissenting voices among legislators, some of whom had wanted to delay the project by a year over costs and that the government was solely responsible for funding.

"We are still on schedule to finish the project by 2019-20," McKinley said. Every indication is that work on the 50,000-seat stadium and other facilities will only begin in 2016. The next step is to get funding approved for the preparatory work."

Sutcliffe said: "It can't happen quickly enough. But at least things are starting to move forward."

 

South China announces a new sponsor, Microsoft, who will also provide technical support to the club.

 

Lunar New Year Cup:

Ecuador's Deportivo Cuenca and Hong Kong's Citizen AA will join forces to play in the Lunar New Year Cup. The other competitors are FC Tokyo, FC Krylia Sovetov Samara, Sporting Clube Olhanense are the other three participants.

31st Jan schedule:
Cuenca-Citizen vs FC Krylia Sovetov Samara
FC Tokyo vs Sporting Club Olhanense

The winners will play each other for the Lunar New Year Cup and the losers will play for third place.

 

HKFA Cup draw:

Metro Gallery Sun Source vs Citizen AA
Happy Valley AA vs Southern District
South China AA vs Sun Pegasus
Sunhei SC vs Kwai Ching AA
Eastern Salon AA vs Yokohama FC (Hong Kong)
Wofoo Tai Po FC vs Biuchun Rangers
Tuen Mun AA vs I-Sky Yuen Long
Hong Kong Football Club vs Kitchee SC

The semi-finalists of the junior HKFA Cup, Sun Source, Kwai Ching, Wofoo Tai Po and HK Football Club are invited to take part, making it a 16 team tournament.

Due to the recent match-fixing scandal, the HKFA have not been able to find a sponsor for the tournament and there likely won't be any prize money.

 

Cuenca/Citizen AA training hard for Lunar New Year Cup.



FC Krylia Sovetov Samara's Igor Semshov practicing his shooting.



FC Tokyo's Hideto Takahashi greets the Hong Kong media.



Sporting Club Olhanense arrives in Hong Kong and wishes the media a Happy Chinese New Year.

 

12,174 people attended the Lunar New Year Cup matches yesterday.



Citizen Cuenca United's Hong Kong goalkeeper Tse Tak-Him saved a penalty to help CCU advance to the final on Monday.



Earlier, 40 years-old Detinho scored with a stunning left foot volley, then Krasic scored an injury time freekick to help CCU equalize against Samara FC to take the game to penalty kicks.



FC Tokyo lost on penalties 6-7 to Sporting Olhanese after drawing 1-1.

 

South China Morning Post

Detinho ready to repeat his 'boot-phone' celebration for Citizen

Alvin Sallay

Citizen Cuenca United are hoping for another call on Detinho's "boot-phone" as they bid to land the AET Lunar New Year Cup at Hong Kong Stadium on Monday evening.

Citizen - strengthened with players from the Ecuador side Cuenca - are in the final against Portuguese Super League side SC Olhanense and they will be looking to their super-sub to provide a repeat of Friday's bizarre goal celebration.

Detinho scored a tremendous goal to spark Citizen's comeback from 2-0 down against fancied Russian Super League side FC Krylia Sovetov Samara. He then took off his right boot and clasped it to his ear to "phone" his fans in the stadium.

"That was my way of saying thank you to all the people of Hong Kong who have supported me over the last seven years of my stay in this wonderful city. I wanted to say <i>kung hei fat choi </i>with that telephone call," Detinho explained.

"Hong Kong has given me so much and that goal proved to be a very important goal as it was the start of our comeback. Let's hope that Citizen can go on and win this competition and give more joy to the fans."

Citizen were trailing 2-0 with only one minute left of regulation time when Detinho volleyed in.

"I hope I can score again in the final. That would be something special. I played three seasons for South China and the last four have been with Citizen. It would be great if Citizen can win this tournament," he added.

Detinho turned 40 last September but said then: "Age is not a problem as long as you have the heart."

Citizen's executive director Calvin Pui Ho-wang agrees. "He is always powerful in the air and despite his age, he is still a key player," Pui said. "That's why we offered him a contract."

In the third-place play-off, Samara take on Japanese side FC Tokyo.

 

Lunar New Year Cup:

Third Place:
FC Tokyo 0:1 FC Samara



Final:
Citizen Cuenca Utd 2:0 S.C. Olhanense

Shum Kwok-Keung (first pic, green shirt) scored the opening goal while Krasic scored with a header after his penalty is punched out, but the shot from Nakamura bounced off the goalkeeper and Krasic managed to head it in.

Event sponsor AET is pleased with the turnout of 13,000 yesterday plus 12,000 on the first day. They will apply to stage the event again in 2015.

Cuenca is inviting Citizen to play in a cup competition in Ecuador in return.

 

South China Morning Post

Codes joins forces over training centre
Delay over academy prompts talks between Hong Kong soccer and rugby officials on interim site that would offer four pitches, two of them artificial

Alvin Sallay

The Hong Kong Football Association is set to join up with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and the government to start work on an interim version of the proposed National Football Training Centre at Tseung Kwan O.

The Hong Kong national team and First Division clubs will have to continue sharing facilities with the public next season because the Tseung Kwan O facility continues to be delayed as a Hong Kong Jockey Club-commissioned consultancy study to prepare a master plan for the site remains unfinished.

HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe said the centre would not be ready for the start of the new professional league in September. The delay has forced soccer to consider involving the HKRFU, which could get use of pitches at the new facility.

The plan is for four pitches - two artificial, two grass - to be built on the site as soon as possible, but Sutcliffe said even this interim solution may not be sorted out for next season. The final plan for the training centre has eight pitches, plus residential quarters and other facilities.

"We wanted this facility to be ready by now but that's not going to happen and we will have to be pragmatic," said Sutcliffe. "We are now talking to the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and the government and plans are progressing, but no agreements have been reached and no time frame is in place.

"Our need for pitches is desperate so we hope it will be ready as soon as possible. I think [the interim centre] is more likely to be ready for 2015-16."

Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Jonathan McKinley said: "We are keen that football gets a new home and we will go ahead and back this joint plan by the HKFA and the HKRFU in the interim, and until the Jockey Club comes on board."

HKRFU chief executive Vern Reid confirmed talks were continuing with the HKFA.

"We have had an informal discussion with HKFA about Tseung Kwan O," Reid said. "What needs to be identified is what is the opportunity for an additional pitch or pitches at the site and if we did join together in this project with the HKFA how would we do that. In essence, we do have a need for pitches, and we have begun to look at what this land might offer us if it became available."

The soccer academy was first mooted in 2003, when it was estimated it would cost HK$103 million. With construction costs soaring, it is now estimated that costs for the full facility would be in excess of HK$750 million, something which only the Jockey Club can afford.

"If the [Jockey Club's] main scheme goes ahead it will incorporate phase one, in other words the design of phase one will be future-proofed. The training centre itself might include an element of sharing with rugby but the grass pitches will be exclusively for football," Sutcliffe said.

The HKFA had hoped the new facility would be ready by 2015 to coincide with the start of its new professional league so it could become the base for four First Division clubs who do not have permanent training facilities, as well as the national side.

Sutcliffe stressed it was important for the HKFA to claim the Tseung Kwan O site for soccer now that the government wants to use former landfills for recreation and community facilities.

 

Hong Kong First Division League:

Yesterday's results:

Southern District 3:2 Eastern Salon AA

ISky Yuen Long 3:1 Yokohama FC (HK)

 

Hong Kong U16 lost to China U16 1:2 at the Po Leung Kuk International Youth Football Tournament yesterday and finished third.

Hong Kong U14 also lost to Thailand U14 0:3.

 

Both Tuen Mung SA and Happy Valley AA have been banned from taking part in the remaining HKFA football season. Their youth teams are not affected. HKFA's expert panel judged that both clubs' management and finance level are not satisfactory.

Happy Valley AA chairman Pei Kwan-Key is disappointed with this development and thinks this further complicates matters. Happy Valley AA's sponsors have already deposited their money at the lawyers' office and they are ready to play. It will affect many players' livelihood.

 

Citizen AA defeated Metro Gallery Sun Source 3:0 to advance to the quarter finals of the HKFA Cup.

 

South China Morning Post

Happy Valley and Tuen Mun football clubs suspended from league

Unus Alladin

First Division soccer clubs Happy Valley and Tuen Mun have been suspended from league fixtures for the rest of the season amid an investigation into alleged match-fixing.

A Hong Kong Football Association committee, set up to oversee the investigation, said last night that the two clubs had "fallen below the standard expected of professional football" and were "likely to have brought the game into disrepute".

The two clubs had been unable to prove they were "viable football clubs", it said.

The suspension relates only to First Division and FA Cup matches - it does not affect the clubs' reserve division or youth teams.

The HKFA also recommended the conduct of former Tuen Mun player, Li Ming, who is at the centre of the investigation, be referred to the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa.

The HKFA said it would address the wider implications of the suspensions, such as how the results of matches involving the clubs would be reflected in the league table.

Mark Sutcliffe, the HKFA chief executive, thanked the committee "for its expeditious and diligent consideration of these serious matters".

"The board of directors has made difficult decisions based solely on fact," he said. "This reflects the determination of the HKFA to uphold the highest standard of club governance."

The committee also recommended more stringent rules on governance and financial viability when the new Hong Kong Premier League starts this year.

The committee said on its creation it was not duplicating an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which arrested six Happy Valley players last month.

 

Happy Valley AA and Tuen Mun SA players are worried about their livelihood. Both clubs played in the reserves league yesterday and complained to the media about their poor treatment from HKFA.

Happy Valley AA's deputy manager Mr. Lo Kwun-Ming said they are being punished before the court has passed any judgement. They have $2 million at the lawyers' office and that should guarantee their immediate future, yet the HKFA refuse to let them continue.

 

South China Morning Post

Happy Valley and Tuen Mun, clubs at centre of match-fxing probe, stripped of all points
HKFA decides to annul all games both teams have played this season

Unus Alladin

Beleaguered clubs Tuen Mun and Happy Valley received more punishment amid an investigation into allegations of match fixing when the Hong Kong Football Association decided last night to annul all their First Division games this season.

The HKFA is expected to make an official announcement today, but it is understood that Tuen Mun and Happy Valley will have all their points docked and that their opposition would be handed 3-0 victories.

Tuen Mun and Happy Valley have been struggling in the league, and have accumulated just five points between them, with Tuen Mun scoring just one victory and a draw from nine games played. Happy Valley are winless this season, picking up just one point from nine games.

Last night's move comes in the wake of Tuesday's decision by an HKFA committee to suspend both clubs from league fixtures for the rest of the season.

The ad hoc six-member committee was specially convened to oversee an investigation over match-fixing.

The association's independent director, Stephen Yau, is the chairman and the retired assistant director of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Sam Hui Kwok-ting, is also a member.

The HKFA will also decide today the system of promotion and demotion in the league, and whether just one club will be relegated to the Second Division.

Happy Valley are expected to appeal their suspension from the league and are seeking legal advice.

Meanwhile, Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei coasted to the second round of the FA Cup after thrashing Second Division side, Kwai Tsing, 9-1 at Mong Kok Stadium last night.

Playing on a bitterly cold evening, Sun Hei showed the huge gulf between the sides with Reinaldo de Morais Peres, Michel Antunes Lugo and Zhang Jun each scoring twice. Sun Hei led 3-1 at the break before continuing their dominance in the second period.

 

South China Morning Post

Happy Valley and Tuen Mun's suspension was a warning to others, says Mark Sutcliffe
HKFA chief says move to suspend clubs was a clear message to 'clean up' sport

Alvin Sallay

The move to suspend Happy Valley and Tuen Mun from the First Division is a strong message that the Hong Kong Football Association is serious about "cleaning up" the sport as it looks towards a new professional era, said senior official Mark Sutcliffe last night.

The clubs have been kicked out of the top flight after an HKFA investigation found that they had brought the game into disrepute and were not viable to continue playing as they fell short in terms of governance, financial status and operational abilities.

"We hope this will send a strong message that the HKFA is serious about cleaning up the sport in terms of the governance and financial stability of the clubs," said Sutcliffe, HKFA chief executive, yesterday. "This is also an indication of how keen we are to raise playing standards as we look ahead to the new Hong Kong Premier League next season."

The financial situation of Happy Valley and Tuen Mun changed dramatically mid-season, leading both clubs to inform the HKFA that they were not able to fulfil their financial obligations for the rest of the season.

Tuen Mun had deregistered 11 players and terminated an agreement with a mainland backer last month. Around the same time, things took a turn for the worse for Happy Valley when the ICAC took away a number of Happy Valley players after a match.

Investigations are still continuing on this front.

"Our investigations had nothing to do with match-fixing," stressed Sutcliffe.

"We took a decision to suspend both clubs simply because they have brought the game into disrepute by not being able to meet their financial obligations and due to their governance. We felt it was not viable for both clubs to continue for the rest of the season," he said.

With both clubs having had mainland backers, the HKFA was looking at setting stringent rules on financial transparency for next season, Sutcliffe said.

"The criteria we will have in place will include a 'fit and proper person' test which will look into the background of the people behind the clubs. This will minutely examine the people who back the clubs financially. We want everything to be transparent, so that we don't come up with situations like this again," said Sutcliffe.

This is the first time that two clubs have been suspended by the HKFA in recent times.

The suspension of Happy Valley and Tuen Mun will result in the promotion-relegation system being deferred at the end of this season. This means the club at the bottom of the 10-team standings remain in the First Division.

Nine of these teams have confirmed that they intend to apply for a Hong Kong Premier League licence. There will be 12 licences available, so three will be open for other club applications. Sutcliffe said Happy Valley and Tuen Mun had indicated that they wanted to apply for the new licence.

"We will take a decision on this at the next board meeting and it will be based on 'sporting merit'," Sutcliffe said.

The HKFA had also considered the current league table and decided that the results of all of the matches played by the two clubs this season will not be included.

 

Sunray Cave JC SunHei 3:3 I-Sky Yuen Long SA



Eastern Salon AA 3:4 Biu Chun Rangers

 

Kitchee 4:0 Royal Southern District SA



South China 3:1 Yokohama FC (HK)

 

South China AA announced today that Head Coach Andy Cheung Po-Chun has resigned. Assistant Team Manager (technical) Yeung Ching-Kwong will take over.

 

Christian Annan (left, shooting) is scheduled to receive his HK SAR passport on 21 Feb. HK national team immediately drafts him into the squad, in preparation for the Vietnam match on 5 March.

 

Christian Annan (red, no. 12) played for Hong Kong national team against Citizen AA in a training match yesterday. Citizen won 3-0. He said it is a dream come true but the fans should not pin all their hopes on him.

Festus Baise (green no. 7), who played in the match for Citizen AA, is still waiting for his HKSAR passport to come through.