HKFA CEO Mark Sutcliffe said from 1 July onwards, players must hold a valid HK SAR passport in order to be registered as a local player. That means players with HK ancestry like Lam Zhi-Gin and Sean Tse will not be able to register as local players from that date onwards. All players who have already registered with HKFA as local players will not be affected. So if you hold an HKID card and want to play in HK, hurry up and sign with a HK club before 1 July...
$5.45 billion for Disneyland expansion, $117.7 billion so far for the bridge, $40 billion for the Central Kowloon route, and $141.5 billion for the third airport runway... After all this, the government can still find money to give $60 million to bidders for a $31 billion sports park, which includes a stadium which will cost many more millions to maintain.
Here is the 29 player preliminary list called up for the friendly match against Jordan (7th June) and preparations for their second AFC Asian Cup 2019 against North Korea (13th June): Goalkeepers: YAPP Hung Fai - Eastern Long Lions WANG Zhenpang - Kitchee SC TSE Tak Him - KC Southern TSANG Man Fai - South China AA Defenders: Jack SEALY - Changchun Yatai FC (China) ROBERTO Affonso Junior - Eastern Long Lions CHENG King Ho - Eastern Long Lions TSANG Kam To - Eastern Long Lions WONG Tsz Ho - Eastern Long Lions Festus BAISE - Guizhou Zhicheng FC (China) HELIO Goncalves - Kitchee SC LEUNG Nok Hang - South China AA Jean-Jacques KILAMA - Tianjin Quanjian (China) LEE Chi Ho Midfielders: JU Yingzhi - Eastern Long Lions LEUNG Chun Pong - Eastern Long Lions XU Deshuai - Eastern Long Lions WU Chun Ming - Hong Kong Pegasus FC HUANG Yang - Kitchee SC LAM Ka Wai - Kitchee SC LO Kwan Yee - Kitchee SC NGAN Lok Fung - KMB Yuen Long FC TAN Chun Lok - Wofoo Tai Po FC Forwards: Jaimes McKEE - Eastern Long Lions Alex Tayo AKANDE - Kitchee SC Alessandro FERREIRA (SANDRO) - Kitchee SC James Stephen Gee HA - KC Southern Godfred KARIKARI - Qingdao Huanghai FC (China) LO Kong Wai - South China AA https://news.mingpao.com/ins/instantnews/web_tc/article/20170519/s00006/1495205678179 https://www.hkfa.com/en/ The player list will reduce from 29 to 23 at a specific date. In addition, in the transfer window news, top scorer of the 1st Division, Yuen Chun Sing joins Wofoo Tai Po: #HK's 1st Division top-scorer Yuen Chun-sing (more than 40 goals in 26 games) joins #TaiPoFC #hkfootball #HKPL— Football in Hong Kong (@offsideHK) May 15, 2017
HKPL play off Eastern 6:1 South China Cheng Siu-Wai (HK Henry) scored after gaining a penalty. He will retire at the end of the season, which is now extended to next Sunday. South China convener Wallace Cheung will step down with immediate effect. (I guess that's why his team was so easily dismantled today.) Rumour has it that he will take charge of either Sun Hei or Wong Tai Sin next season.
Wong Tai Sin are to remain in the 1st division for the next season despite finishing as runner up: 1st Division runners-up Wong Tai Sin decided not to apply for promotion to the #HK Premier League; the Templemen stay in 1st Div— Football in Hong Kong (@offsideHK) May 20, 2017
HKPL play off Kwun Chung Southern District 3:1 KMB Yuen Long Eastern will play Kwun Chung Southern District next Saturday 3pm at Mongkok Stadium to decide who will play in the ACL qualifying play off next season.
Kitchee has moved quickly to sign Lucas Silva from Tai Po. He's already begun training with them and will be available for Friday. https://www.hk01.com/體育/92742/-港超-盧卡斯率先轉會傑志-有望周五鬥熱刺
In other news, I asked Mark Sutcliffe about Macanese clubs joining the HKPL. He says it's "not a bad idea" but there haven't been any expressions of interest. He also confirmed that HKFC will NOT (emphasis his) be in the HKPL next season.
Kitchee and Tottenham Hotspurs attended a press conference this evening. Kitchee promised fans they will try to attack. 20,000 tickets have been sold and Ken Ng hopes the match can draw a 36,000 crowd.
Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo is in Hong Kong as well, he is here on behalf of Real Madrid Foundation.
30,000 tickets have been sold for the Kitchee vs Spurs match. Ken Ng said there will be no live TV broadcasts for the match.
It is widely reported that Liverpool, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace will take part in the 2017 Premier League Asia Trophy in Hong Kong on 19 and 22 July. Shanghai was approached to organize one match day but declined, so both match days will be held in Hong Kong now. Let's hope Hong Kong Stadium's grass pitch is up to it.
Son Heung-Min and 3 other Spurs players have arrived in Hong Kong after a short stay in Son's home country South Korea. Son said he remembers Kitchee player Lam Zhi-Gin from their times together at S. V. Hamburg. They will join the rest of the Spurs team for the match against Kitchee tomorrow evening. Spurs will train in the Hong Kong Stadium tonight.
Tottenham Hotspurs held a open training session at the Hong Kong Stadium yesterday. The players were very friendly towards everybody. Former Hamburg teammates Lam Zhi-Gin met with Son Heung-Min and the two hugged and had a good chat. Lam Zhi-Gin is injured and cannot play tonight, but he still hopes to swap shirts with Son after the match.
Kevin Bond is set to leave Hong Kong Pegasus' coach position and join Harry Redknapp at Birmingham to be his assistant coach. Maybe Hong Kong Pegasus should hire David Moyes... only joking.
The Standard Villa bent on having magnificent Sevens Captain Harry McKirdy warns that Aston Villa are determined to mount a successful defense of their HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens title beginning today at Hong Kong Football Club. Six-time winners Villa are joined by Premier League duo Leicester City, who were champions in 2013, and West Ham for the three-day event. Glasgow Rangers return, joined by newcomers Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and Cagliari. Wellington Phoenix and Japan's Kashima Antlers return, while Singapore Cricket Club complete the international lineup. Six Hong Kong teams, including recently crowned Hong Kong Premier League champions and 2011 winners Kitchee, will also see action. "We've come back to retain the title," said McKirdy, who is appearing in the competition for the fourth successive year. "It's a good tournament at the end of a season and it's good to get out here with the lads, play some football and experience another country."
Kitchee Jockey Club Centre Cup Kitchee 1:4 Tottenham Hotspurs Son Heung-Min opened the scoring for Spurs. Harry Kane came on as a substitute in the second half and promptly scored. Ezakiah Sterling scored the final goal. New recruit Lucas Silva scored the consolation goal for Kitchee. Apple Daily claimed 28,000 attended the match.
HKPL play-off Eastern 3:0 Kwun Chung Southern District Eastern will represent Hong Kong in the ACL qualifying play offs next year. Well, if they get lucky and qualify, then I hope they at least TRY to do better. But I doubt they will or can.
Chan Yuen-Ting will step down as Eastern head coach position in order to pursue FIFA Pro License course. Her position will be taken over by assistant coach Szeto Man Chun. Eastern convener Peter Leung Shou-Chi said the poor season was not Chan Yuen-Ting's responsibility alone, every department could do better and he announced the signings of defender Lee Chi-Ho and striker Lam Hock-Hei for 2017-18 season.
Looks like Chan Wai Ho is going to play his last matches against Jordan and North Korea as he is retiring from international football as it seems. https://www.facebook.com/hkleague/p...506791559607/1567739616569647/?type=3&theater Here is the 24 squad list which has been reduced from the preliminary squad as follows: Goalkeepers YAPP Hung Fai - Eastern Long Lions WANG Zhenpang - Kitchee SC TSANG Man Fai - South China AA Defenders *TSUI Wang Kit - Biu Chun Glory Sky Jack SEALY - Changchun Yatai FC (China) ROBERTO Affonso Junior - Eastern Long Lions TSANG Kam To - Eastern Long Lions Festus BAISE - Guizhou Zhicheng FC (China) *LI Ngai Hoi - Hong Kong Pegasus HELIO Goncalves - Kitchee SC *CHAN Wai Ho - South China AA LEUNG Nok Hang - South China AA Jean-Jacques KILAMA - Tianjian Quanjian FC (China) LEE Chi Ho Midfielders JU Yingzhi - Eastern Long Lions HUANG Yang - Kitchee SC LAM Ka Wai - Kitchee SC LO Kwan Yee - Kitchee SC TAN Chun Lok - Wofoo Tai Po FC Forwards Jaimes McKEE - Eastern Long Lions Alex Tayo AKANDE - Kitchee SC *Paul NGUE - Kwoon Chung Southern AA Godfred KARIKARI - Qingdao Haunghai FC (China) LO Kong Wai - South China AA *為補選球員
Small correction to my previous post: Chan Wai Ho will be playing his last international match against Jordan in a friendly: http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong...o-make-his-final-bow-hong-kong-against-jordan
Sandro explained his decision on withdrawing from the Hong Kong national team. He said he has no contract yet for the 2017-18 HKPL season and if he suffered any injury while playing for the national team, there would be no salary compensation but only medical expenses. Sandro said he has no other skills except playing football so he cannot afford to lose any salary.
Aren't most contracts one year deals in Hong Kong? It doesn't seem to have bothered anybody else on the squad. On the other hand, the thought of Sandro playing alongside Bleda or Komazec next year is an interesting one...
The whole text by Sandro himself: Dear ones. I would like to share with you the reason why I will not represent the HK team in this game. I got ready for this game. And I was very happy when I saw my name on the squad list. But in conversation with the HK team I knew that if I had any injuries in training or games at the HK team I would only be entitled to medical treatment. But, this insurance doesn't cover if I have any injuries that make it impossible for me to play for a few months. Because I have not signed a contract with any club yet. So I decide not to risk because I work with my body and there is nothing I know how to do besides playing football. I have a family that depends on me and my work. Although I'm sad to not represent my country, I'm confident that we will have good results with the wonderful team we have. Sorry I'm cheering for you HK team I look forward to represent Hong Kong again in the future, as I am really proud to play for the representative team and it is one of the most important moments in my life.