Former Red Devil Charlie Scott has reportedly signed for Happy Valley AA. Scott has actually been given up by Man Utd and begun work as a construction worker. But Happy Valley AA's offer allows him to pick up his football career again.
Full Time Results: Kitchee SC Vs KC Southern - 1:1 Kitchee could only salvage a draw against KC Southern in which a win could get them closer towards the HKPL title. Manu Gavilan scored on the 74th minute to give Kitchee the lead before KC Southern's Kota Kawase equalised ten minutes later. Lee Man FC Vs R&F HK - 0:1 Lee Man's losing run continues as a goal by Jordan Lam Lok-Kan gave R&F HK a vital three points to keep their title hopes alive. Tomorrow Eastern Long Lions will face off against Happy Valley. A win for them will see Eastern leap past Kitchee and R&F HK.
Full Time: Eastern Long Lions Vs Happy Valley - 4:0 Goals from Wong Wai, Joao Emir and a Lucas Silva double gave Eastern Long Lions a vital three points which puts them back in contention for the Hong Kong Premier League title.
24 months ago he was still playing for Man Utd U23's. It's unbelievable how quickly things change in football. Perhaps former Man City youth product and Manchester native Sean Tse can help him with transitioning to HK.
Eastern now must win against R&F to keep their title hopes alive. No way Kitchee will drop points against Happy Valley, and the goal difference is too big for R&F to make a run for the title. So, it is pretty much all dependent on Eastern now. Question - what happens if Eastern win the league? Will they become the sole AFC tournament representative for HK or will the runner up teams be called in?
The first tiebreaker is head to head so if Kitchee and R&F are level on points, Kitchee would win the title. If Eastern win the league, they will qualify for the ACL. Hong Kong currently has two berths in Asia - an ACL playoff spot/AFC Group stage for the champions and an AFC Cup playoff spot. Depending on what happens with North Korea, the league champion could go straight into the ACL group stage. Hong Kong would retain its two AFC Cup spots which means that Eastern, Kitchee and R&F would all qualify for Asia next season.
Its always going to be difficult for young players to make a breakthrough especially within big clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool etc. Some young players do take their time to make a break in to the first team such as Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood etc. But for some, if clubs do not see them play a part within their future plans, they would usually release them. For Charlie Scott, it will be interesting to see what role he can play within Happy Valley and hopefully he can revitilise his career with the club.
But still, going from training with MU U-23's to Happy Valley? That is a serious drop. At least he should be in Kitchee or R&F. Imagine the level of play required to even survive through the youth ranks.
I'm sure you've read about his mental health struggles since being released? Better teams may not feel they need to take a risk on him given those struggles.
All 3 final league matches will play simultaneously tomorrow at 3pm. Kitchee vs Happy Valley Eastern vs R&F FC Lee Man FC vs KC Southern District
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2020/10/10/SP2010100012.htm Wen Wei Po predicts the home stadium situation for 2020-2021 HKPL season Kitchee: Mongkok Stadium/Hong Kong Stadium Eastern: Mongkok Stadium/Hong Kong Stadium R&F FC: Mongkok Stadium/TKO Sports Ground Pegasus FC: Yuen Long Stadium Lee Man FC: TKO Sports Ground Happy Valley: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground KC Southern Disctrict: Aberdeen Sports Ground Rangers FC: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Resources Capital FC: Tsing Yi Sports Ground The top 3 all want Mongkok, so it will be decided by how they finish in the HKPL tomorrow, with the top 2 getting Mongkok and the third team getting their second choice.
I can see the logic in all of these except the last two. Philip Lee talked about wanting to lay roots down in Tuen Mun so I think they will stay there next season. Resources Capital head coach Ho Shun Yin's side project Pak Hei was recently authorized as Tai Po's new district representative team. I think he will push hard for his employers to choose Tai Po Sports Ground.
FT Eastern Longlions 0:0 R&F FC Kitchee 4:0 Happy Valley So Kitchee has won HKPL for 2020-21, congratulations!
Congrats to Kitchee! I am wondering, who owns these clubs? Who is the ultimate owner of Kitchee and Eastern? Unlike Steven Lo with South China, it is not immediately obvious.
Well done and congrats to Kitchee for taking the 2019/20 Hong Kong Premier League title. Guess Eastern Long Lions and Lee Chi-Kin were not able to get their treble as they were held goaless by R&F HK. In addition, Jorge Paramo Tarres played his last game for Lee Man as he confirmed that he is retiring.
Both teams had chances to win at the death but ultimately, it will be Eastern and Kitchee playing at Mong Kok next season. Eastern - Top East Holdings Kitchee - Ken Ng R&F - R&F Properties Congratulations to Jordi on a fine career. Came to Hong Kong at age 29. Made his international debut for Hong Kong at age 36.
After spending $130 million dollars over the past four seasons, it appears that R&F will pull out of the Premier League. The club haven't announced anything but on social media, the players are implying that the rumours are true.
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2020/10/14/SP2010140017.htm My favourite HK football news outlet Wen Wei Po is reporting that R&F FC is leaving HKPL. It says R&F FC players enjoy much higher salary than the other HKPL club players. Even a bench warmer gets HK$60,000/mth, a good foreigner gets HK$200,000/mth. So they will not be able to get the same pay in other HKPL clubs. Also most clubs have completed their squads so few R&F FC players will get recruited. I suspect Kitchee might be interested in one or two of the foreigners, since they likely have qualified for the ACL group stage. Igor Sartori maybe interesting to them at a lower salary point.
https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/sport/20201014/bkn-20201014144154009-1014_00882_001.html R&F FC confirmed their exit from HKPL with immediate effect.
Interview with Happy Valley's new signing Charlie Scott. In addition, I wonder if any of the R&F players could find themselves a new team since the club has already confirmed their withdrawal from HKPL as I am sure that there will be some interest from other HKPL clubs especially for Kitchee and Eastern.
They will have to push out the existing players from the clubs in order to do so. You won't get more players in the league, the less capable players will lose out and leave the Hong Kong football scene altogether. The only hope is that a new club can be formed in time to take over the players and coaches' contracts. But chances are very slim.
Youngster Yue Tsz-Nam joins Resources Capital FC on loan from Eastern Long Lions. Eastern Long Lions drafted in Roberto Losada formerly of Kitchee to their backroom staff. Former U23 representative Remi Dujardin signs with Albania's top tier Kategoria Superiore outfit KF Skënderbeu.
https://hk.appledaily.com/sports/20201015/2GXCAZQRWBAJLCEOKTV72GT27M/ - Diego Eli is recovering from a muscle rupture but may be available when the new season starts - Sandro is suffering from a muscle strain. Could be out long term - Fernando has a torn Achilles and will require surgery - Eastern are interested in signing Igor Sartori but unsure if the player is interested. Potentially a replacement for Fernando
HK Pegasus will be renamed back to TSW Pegasus FC. Led by Kenneth Kwok Kar Lok, the team had signed a number of new players which include former Tai Po players Sun Ming Him and Felix Luk, Southern's Christopher Chung, Eastern's Tse Long Hin and Chan Ching Him etc. Wu Chun Ming and Lau Hok Ming have also joined Pegasus on loan from Eastern. On the other hand, 2019/20 HKPL champions Kitchee who will mostly focus on promoting youth players within the 2020/21 season, Defender Brian Fok is rumoured to head out on loan whilst Manolo Bleda appeared to have left the club.