Mixu Paatelainen invokes Spartan fighting spirit for Hong Kong footballers in build-up to 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
More like a reward.. Best draw would be China-Lebanon-North Korea-Hong Kong-Sri Lanka/Macau. Lebanon are weak and North Korea are hardly going to even try. It is probably only a matter of time before AFC ban them because it is getting out of control: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Dt9_RdO1Y&t=2m54s (just incredible, once again)
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20190614/bkn-20190614200335775-0614_00882_001.html Pui Kwan Kay confirmed on Friday that there will be 10 teams in the HKPL next season. He reiterates that there can't be more than ten at the moment due to lack of facilities although there are other reasons (*cough* money). On the subject of R&F, he believes that it won't be a problem for them to become a Full Member for the upcoming seasons. However, he doubts whether the AFC would allow them to qualify for Asian competition even if they were a Full Member as they need to differentiate themselves administratively from their parent club.
Wofoo Tai Po will play Kitchee tomorrow night in the second HK Derby in the AFC Cup Group I match. Both clubs have lost players since the end of the HKPL season to other clubs, but they still have 19 to 20 players on their squad. Eligible players Igor Sartori and Harrison Sawyer have left Tai Po while Jordi Tarres and Recio have left Kitchee. Both coaches said they will still go for the win. Both clubs still have another match to play in a week's time.
The HKFA held a board meeting on Monday to confirm that Happy Valley would go up and Hoi King would go down. Although Hoi King and Rangers had both applied for a HKPL license, the organization rejected their applications and affirmed that they had no intention to expand beyond 10 clubs. There were rumours of an expansion club into the HKPL however Brian Leung stated that the HKFA would more strictly adhere to the promotion/relegation system in the future to prevent this. R&F are expected to be confirmed as a Full Member at the emergency meeting next week. The HKFA will refer to the AFC and ask if they have any objections. R&F intend to remain at the Yanzigang Stadium which is currently undergoing renovations. If the stadium does not meet standards following renovations, then their Plan B is the Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium. Of note, the foreign quota has been increased to seven. Clubs may now register five foreigners of any nationality + one Asian + one Chinese national.
I don't know why HKPL cannot move to a franchise system like the A League or MLS, with regular season and play-offs. Not everyone wants to be promoted or relegated. Clubs also need guaranteed top-tier competition to plan financially. No one wants to make investments if the club cannot receive guarantee that they will compete in the top tier competition for a certain period of time (probably 3 years at least).
AFC Cup Group I FT Wofoo Tai Po 3:3 Kitchee Since 4.25 SC defeated Hang Yuen 5:0, the outcome of this match became academic. Both clubs have one more match to play next week. Kitchee players are not having much of a summer break this year, as they will play Man City on 24 July, so they will have to keep on training.
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football...e-afc-after-rf-plan-become-full-voting-member Some more information about R&F FC becoming a full member. HKFA is actually seeking AFC advice. It also said R&F FC might use Guangdong Provincial People's Stadium (capacity 15,000) instead of Yanzigang if the latter's renovation turns out to be not up to standard.
According to Offside.hk's twitter, it seemed that Tai Po's winning coach Lee Chi-Kin is likely to depart and join Eastern Long Lions. In addition he aims to bring Wong Wai, Leung Kwun-Chung, Fung Hing-Wa and possibly Eduardo Praes to Eastern. On the other hand, former Hoi King coach Fung Hoi-Man is set to takeover Lee Chi-Kin's position as their new coach.
This means Wofoo Tai Po will lose the skeleton of the team. I wonder what kind of team they will field in the 2020 ACL qualifier, or are they going to field a second string team and just let it slide?
It is great to see Kitchee beat 4.25 SC and show that the North Korean club is not unbeatable. Hopefully they will keep it up next season. On the other hand Wofoo Tai Po drawing Hang Yuen is not so great. Maybe that's a hint of what is to come next year for the district club, after the current squad is dismantled...
Lee Chi-Kin has announced that he is leaving Wofoo Tai Po and will join another club in the new season, strongly rumoured to be Easern Longlions. Wofoo Tai Po Mr. Choi said he is still on good terms with Lee. They just cannot agree on the future direction of Wofoo Tai Po. Choi insists that Lee never lied to him and they are still friends.
Interesting bit of information I came across today - apparently there were a number sponsors who were willing to invest in South China and help them promote back into the HKPL next season. However, they were rebuffed by management who didn't feel it was the right time to promote.
The biggest problem is they will have to bid very high against the likes of R&F FC and Eastern Longlions for quality players and coaching staff. This late in the season it is simply not possible as most are already contracted.
Chan Siu-Kwan has rejoined KC Southern from Tai Po FC. In other news, former striker Chuck Yiu-Kwok is in trouble.
R&F FC announced they have signed Adama Guira R&F FC also signed up Jordan Lam and Tse Ka-Wing Itaparica, Paulinho, Godfred Karikari etc 6 players will leave the club.
Eastern is making wholesale changes to bring in some new blood. To summarize what we know thus far: IN: - Lee Chi Kin (head coach) - Lau Hok Ming - Wu Chun Ming - Hirokane Harima - Jean Moser - Stefan Pereira OUT: - Manuel Bleda - Robson - Lima Pereira
In addition, Jack Sealy joins KC Southern from HK Pegasus. Former Dreams FC goalkeeper, To Chun-Kiu is transferred over to Spanish club, Club Depovito Leganes.
Hi Guys, Apologies for gatecrashing the thread. I run an Elite Football programme in New Zealand - we have studying and playing opportunities available for Student footballers from Hong Kong. I am looking to make contact with a coach or agent in HK who might be interested in discussing this further. If anyone could put me in touch with a suitable contact or alternatively pass my details onto them it would be greatly appreciated. Kind Regards Sam Wilkinson - samueljohnwilkinson@gmail.com (personal email)
Kitchee held its press conference today. Blaž Slišković will be its new head coach. Chu Chi-Kwong will revert back to Director of Football position. Kim Dong-Jin has joined the coaching team as assistant defense coach. Yoon Dong-hun will be the new youth coach. Bae Ji-won, formerly of Vietnam national team, will be the new fitness coach. Cleiton de Oliveira Velasques, Manuel Bleda and Wellingson Sousa have joined the club. Fernando, Lucas and Vadocz have remained. Yang Zhao-Hui of Guangzhou Evergrande also joined as Chinese import. One of them will be loaned out after the Man City exhibition match on 24 July to get more playing time. Matthew Elliot Orr Wing Kai will join the club as soon as he finishes his studies in Nov. Kitchee will visit South Korea for two friendlies in July. After the Man City game, they will travel to Vietnam for more pre-season training.
Happy Valley announce plans for next year. The coaching staff and most of the backbone will remain the same. Igor Miovic and Mahir Karić will be retained however star man Ndue Mujeci as well as former internationals Lee Chi Ho and Cheng Lai Hin will not. Meanwhile R&F have acquired 1.96 m central defender Emmersòn on loan. I've also seen reports that they have signed Fong Pak Lun to fill their hole at left wing back.