R&F FC held a press conference to show off their squad for 2019-20 season. The club has a $50m budget which is by far the largest of any HKPL club. Obviously they are going for the title and they are waiting for AFC to decide if they will be eligible to represent HK in Asian club competitions. CFA will have a new rule soon where clubs will not be allowed to have a commercial entity as part of their names. So "R&F" will disappear in the CSL club's name soon, which means R&F FC will have no clash with Guangzhou R&F in terms of the name, one of AFC's main concerns. AFC do not want the possible meeting between Guangzhou R&F and R&F FC in Asian competitions, apparently.
Au Yeung Yiu-Chung signed for Biu Chun Rangers... sigh. I suppose it is time for him to cut the talking and do more actual playing. I didn't really believe he had any chance to play in China again. But I am still a little surprised he has not been able to join HK Pegasus where his old boss Steven Lo is in charge. They are supposed to be on very good terms.
AYYC is a classic warning tale of moving abroad before you are ready... his career went downhill ever since he left South China.
Charles Lokolingoy, a striker, born in DR Congo and is a naturalized Australian, has joined HK Pegasus.
http://www.takungpao.com/life/238149/2019/0801/328852.html Sean Tse Ka Keung has confirmed that he will apply for HK citizenship once the team returns from training in Portugal. He hopes to be able to get his passport in time for the September WC Qualifiers, though that timeline seems to be a bit tight. Any thoughts on if he would make the starting 11 / team once he gets his passport?
He's not a starter. His performances last year weren't even better than his R&F teammate Leung Nok Hang. I say this assuming that he will be playing CB again this season. If he plays DM or CM, then his performances will have to be evaluated as such.
Leung Nok Hang has not been given fair chances to play for the HKNT. Not sure why coaches haven't really favored him...
Centre backs are too important to risk. If I have at my disposal Andy Russell and Festus Baise then I would not want to risk it unnecessarily. Fortunately for Leung Nok-Hang those two will not be around for too much longer I think.
True - Russell has stated that he will only play "a few more years", while Baise will turn 40(!!!) next April so his time could be up anyday. But the downside is who becomes our CBs? You throw in some very raw CBs who have not had "A" level international experience yet...
I'd probably expect Festus Baise to possibly hang up his boots at the end of the season. Anyways, it will be interesting to see which players Mixu will name in his preliminary squad he will call up before the first World Cup qualifying match against Cambodia.
There are a lot of matches coming up in the next 8-9 months, I don't think Festus Baise and Andy Russell will both be fit and be released by their Chinese clubs for all of them. The new ones will get their chances.
https://hk.sports.appledaily.com/sports/realtime/article/20190805/59899953 Biu Chun Rangers have been banned by HKFA to use Zhuhai as their home ground and thus they have lost their additional funding. After discussion, they will use Tang Siu-Kin Sports Ground in Tuen Mun as their home ground for 2019-20 season. So R&F FC is okay to use Guangzhou as their home ground while Biu Chun Rangers cannot use Zhuhai? What's the reason behind that? Is Biu Chun Rangers sponsor unable to pay the expenses of the other clubs? That would be the only reason I find acceptable.
Wong Wai is training with Eastern Longlions. He is expected to transfer to a Chinese league club but the Chinese league is in season and will not take him on until the off season which is November. Lee Chi-Kin said Eastern may offer him a contract for the time being, if he can contribute to the club.
It has been disclosed that Wofoo Tai Po still owe last season's players title winning bonus from 2018-19 season. Former financer Mr. Choi was nowhere to be seen at the team launch yesterday and club president Chen Ping said they have signed a new sponsor, which means the club will have a $15m budget.
Wong Wai is probably the most talented local attacking player right now, so he can definitely help any club in the short term. But Eastern is absolutely loaded with decent talent - why are they hoarding players?
2018 Macau Player of the Year (and favourite to win this year's Player of the Year Award), David Patriota, is currently on trial with Rangers. Will be interesting to see if the best player in Macau, playing for the best club in Macau, can kick on with one of the weaker clubs in Hong Kong.
I think his ability shouldn't be a big problem, the best players in Macau are not too far behind the mediocre players in Hong Kong. It is a good/cheap way for Rangers to have an Asian player in their squad.
Chu Chi-Kwong is appointed as temporrary assistant head coach of the Hong Kong National Football Team in which he will work with the current head coach Mixu Paatalainen until the end of December. "I am looking forward to working with Alex, a high-quality coach on this mission. The matches will be tough but we will try our best together." - Mixu Paatalainen
His knowledge of local players will be a great boost in a very tough stretch. From Sept to Dec, there are a lot of matches that will require strategic deployment. Hope he can help the team!
Some news about host stadiums. R&F FC's home ground at Yanzigang Sports Ground is still not up to standard, if HKFA staff finds the sports ground to be inappropriate during their pre-season inspection in a couple of weeks, then R&F FC will have to play all their home games at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground. Also, Biu Chun Rangers confirmed that they will play their home games at Tuen Mun Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground.
Pegasus return to Hong Kong Stadium where they will play 9 of their first 12 at home, and no home matches after 29 Feb. Happy Valley get their wish to play near the city centre and will play at Hammer Hill. Tsing Yi Sports Ground, strangely, was not chosen despite its ability to host nightime football.
Here is the final 23 man squad named for the World Cup 2022 qualifiers against Cambodia and Iran: Kitchee's Tong Kin Man gets a recall whilst KC Southern's James Ha makes it in the final squad as well. I'm very surprised that Chan Kwong-Ho did not make it into the final squad and I am still a little bit iffy on Sun Ming-Him's inclusion though.