For the last 20 years, there have been intermittent rumours about South China Stadium's reconstruction. Since the stadium's closure, the pitch has been used a range for South China's members to hit their golf balls onto. The spectator stand had also been torn down so that new athletics complex could be built. Apparently, starting today, reconstruction will finally begin. The pitch will be replaced with an artificial surface and a new stand will built with a capacity between 500-1,000. South China says they plan to hold their First Division matches there once it's ready.
The HKFA had recently posted their Vision 2025 document with several goals and highlights they want to achieve. https://www.offside.hk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Vision-2025.pdf Some analysis of the document by Offside HK which is an interesting read on their views: https://www.offside.hk/others/vision-2025-summary-and-analysis-part-1/ https://www.offside.hk/others/vision-2025-summary-and-analysis-part-2/
I simply cannot see where all the money is going to come from for clubs to sign marquee players... etc. Also, clubs to get same home grounds for 3 years? What if they got relegated? It is all very good about spotting talents, but how do you KEEP them in the game? From what I know, Jonathan Cheung / 張高翔, our HK U20 player (nicknamed Hong Kong Xavi), has actually retired from the game and he is only about 21. The local families are so well off that they don't want their children to play football as a career.
HK Rangers, Eastern and Kitchee all received salary subsides from the HK govt. Eastern tops the list with HK$866,625 for 35 people (including non-players). Kitchee gets HK$556,980 for 28 people. HK Rangers only has 11 employees which means they have let go of most of their players I believe.
Eastern hoards players and they ask for subsidies. That's funny. That's the Tai Po Sports Association not the football team.
From his father's facebook. He said Jonathan Cheung will look for performing arts opportunities in California after graduating from college.
Seiko SA 50th anniversary exhibition is being held at Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay. Two of the club's shirts will be re-produced and will go on sale.
Remi Dujardin has joined Albanian football club FK Partizani. Hopefully he can get some playing time there.
Andy Russell has joined newly promoted China League One club Jiangxi Liansheng FC. Makes me wonder whether Alex Akande will be able to find another club.
https://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/sport/20200717/00286_003.html More about the marquee player rule. HKFA has accepted it and laid down the standard for such a player. 1. FIFA ranking top 50 nations player. 2. One full season in the nations' top tier league or 1 national team match appearance. 3. Top 50 ranking as of 11 June 2020. Next season clubs can register 6 foreigners and play 5 at the same time. If all 5 are playing then one of them must be the marquee player. I just wonder where the money will come from for the marquee player. But I think the suggestion came from the clubs so they should know.
Didn't Remi just join another club a few months ago? Also, good for Andy. He never should have left China League One. He can be a solid player in CLO but gets no playing time in CSL.
I'd prefer if they just allow clubs to field an extra foreigner regardless. The spirit of the rule is to attract recognizable names like Forlan or Butt but clubs can circumvent this rule by using players who are already in the league. There are actually many players who would qualify as marquee players. Kitchee: Park, Komazec, Gavilan Eastern: Lucas Silva R&F: Guira, Deble, Sartori Lee Man: Pineiro, Shapoval, Acosta, Gil, N'dri Southern: Rehman
I am not sure all the ones you name qualify. Rehman for example is Pakistani and Pakistan is not in the top 50 ranked nations. As for the others, are you sure they played one full season in their country's top league or 1 international match for their national team? I think most of the Brazilians you named never played for their national team.
The player doesn't need to fulfill both criteria. It can be either of the two. So Rehman, for example, played for Fulham between 2003-06 when they were in the EPL. That would qualify him if Southern wanted to use five foreigners (they won't). Even someone like Krisztian Vadocz wouldn't qualify through their national team (Hungary was ranked #52 in June) but would qualify through the league since he has played in La Liga.
Former Hong Kong international player Itaparica and family are diagnosed with COVID-19. He has retired and is now in Brazil, where there are a lot of COVID-19 cases.
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2020/07/17/SP2007170011.htm If so many existing foreigners already satisfy the rule, then it makes no sense to suggest that more fans would come and watch the matches.
People were lined up around the block more than an hour before the store opened. Some people were unhappy because the store opened at 1 pm to serve customers who wanted to buy shirts first. Any fans who were only there for the exhibition had to wait until the last shirt was sold - plus another 45 minutes - before the store was reopened.
The Hong Kong Footballer of the Year Awards have been cancelled for the first time in 42 years due to the ongoing pandemic.
Ever wonder how much national team players are paid? The bonus structure according to one player is as follows: Selection bonus - $1,000 Appearance fee - $1,500 Training bonus (per each session) - $300 (or $50 for youth national team members) Per diem (away matches only) - $300
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20200803/bkn-20200803171229484-0803_00882_001.html Oriental Daily thinks HK clubs may get 1 direct entry slot into ACL group stage in 2021. But honestly I am quite disillusioned since the Audit Dept's investigation into HKFA's governance, or rather the lack of it. So I am not over the moon about the news, especially since we have not finished the "existing" season and R&F FC is the club in pole position to win it right now. If R&F FC takes the ACL place I wonder how other HK fans will react. Anyway if you told me we should just get rid of HKFA and let HK clubs play in the Chinese League system, I would not say no, since HKFA is an utter disgrace.
The HKFA is considering the possibility of creating a "bubble" for in order to restart the season. Players and coaches would be isolated in hotels and won't be allowed to go outside except to train or to play. Today, both Yap[p Hung Fai and Huang Yang told the media that they are in favour of such a concept.
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20200807/bkn-20200807131237638-0807_00882_001.html Oriental Daily thinks all AFC Cup group I matches maybe played in Taiwan. The matches will be played from 20 Oct to 4 Nov. They are making this guess because the match between Taipower FC and UlaanBaator City FC will be played in Kaohsiung on 16 Oct, just 4 days before the group matches begin.