I think someone was keeping a spreadsheet of HK-eligible / potentially eligible players abroad, and Michael is the only one that fits the "18 playing in Europe" category.
According to his Instagram profile, Sean Tse now runs a professional pressure water washing service in Manchester. It looks like he really has retired.
I believe someone did compile a spreadsheet of Hong Kong footballers playing overseas as well as their potential to become eligible here. But other than that looking at the spreadsheet, Udebulozor does seemingly fit the category described by Andersen.
KC Southern confirmed that Mahama Awal will qualify as a local player once he recieves his HKSAR passport at the end of March in which he will be eligible to represent the Hong Kong national football team.
Looks like he'll just miss the March friendlies, see if Andersen thinks hes good enough for June. What do we all think of him?
Shinichi Chan earns his first start for Real Union but his club lose 2-4. Bad news: Real Union is now officially in the relegation zone and it will be a battle for survival for the rest of the season until May.
Hong Kong vs Singapore on 23 March at Mongkok Stadium is already sold out. Hong Kong NT's matches should be played at HK Stadium, but we have the Rugby 7s at the end of this month. I seriously think Hong Kong should have one 20,000 capacity stadium, that will fit in between Kai Tak Stadium (50,000) and Mongkok (6,600). it is only right.
Speaking of Mahama Awal, it looks like he is getting his HKSAR passport three days before the Hong Kong national football team's match against Singapore after he obtained paperwork to switch nationalities. The Hong Kong Women's U20 team ended their 2024 AFC Women's U20 qualifiers with two draws and a loss. Hong Kong national football team member and Resource Capital's Chan Siu Kwan lands in hot water after he was accused of threatening his girlfriend.
Wondering if thats what HK Stadium will be after Kai Tak opens. I believe they are trying to turn HK Stadium into a larger, regional stadium right?
Kitchee have added 21-year old Ainikaer Maihemuti who formerly played for Xinjiang Taishan Leopard in China League One which has now been dissolved. He will wear the number 13 jersey and successfully completed his registration in which he can represent the club in all domestic competitions.
The plan is to turn it into a 9,000 seat stadium with a track but nothing has been finalized. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kon...g-kong-stadium-capacity-40000-just-9000-still
The plan is to turn it into a 10,000 capacity stadium with athletic tracks. It will supposedly share the burden of Wan Chai sports ground, but I think the govt's plan is to demolish Wan Chai sports ground and turn it into HKCEC phase 3. There is no one left to oppose the govt in the LegCo any more anyway.
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/brea...player-charged-with-threatening-ex-girlfriend Hong Kong football team player charged with threatening ex-girlfriend A midfielder of the Hong Kong football team was granted HK$5,000 bail in the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on Monday after he was charged with threatening his ex-girlfriend to rekindle their broken relationship. Philip Chan Siu Kwan, also a player of the local club Resources Capital Football Club, was charged with criminal intimidation after he verbally threatened his ex-girlfriend, Fan, outside an apartment in Po Wing Building in Causeway Bay on Sunday (Mar 12). No plea was taken from the footballer as Principal Magistrate Ivy Chui Yee-mei adjourned the trial to April 11, during which Chan must stay in Hong Kong. ======================================================= He must have been very emotional with his threats to get sued in court... the Chinese papers said he will be allowed to travel with the HK NT to Malaysia.
Kitchee finally decides to sign a younger keeper for the future, it is clear that Paulo and Wang need to be replaced very soon. Curious, what is the rule for Mainland players to naturalize in HK? Was it 2 years? It's been so long I've forgotten. At 21, and depending on how he performs, he could provide some competition to Ng Wai Him going forward too (but I'm getting ahead of myself). Hmm, depends on if Coach decides to include him in the final roster. When is the final 23 man roster coming out?
If Philip Chan's conditions of the bail did not allow him to travel with HKNT, then the coach would not even consider him, would he? It is called making yourself available.
Yes, perhaps my post was poorly worded - I was wondering if Chan will be selected even though he is available. Not sure about his mental state, etc. Will be up to Jorn.
It makes sense for them to draft in a young goalkeeper at this stage considering that both Wang and Paulo only have a at least another season or two before they may consider retiring. I do believe that Kitchee should also consider looking for other goalkeepers (either promote someone from their youth/reserve team or from other clubs) to act as potential back ups. I'm pretty sure the rule for Mainland-born players to naturalise to Hong Kong should be two years, I think. As for Ainikaer, I think it depends on how and when he will get his first start in which considering that Kitchee will be in action tomorrow evening for their Sapling Cup group match against BC Rangers, I get the feeling we might get to see him feature (if he gets a start.) It is interesting that the national team does not commence their training sessions from March 20th to March 21st and then an official training on March 22nd according to their schedule which is a day before the Singapore match. So I'm guessing maybe after the March 21st training session the final squad list will be revealed?
Can't wait till we get VAR next season and referees decide not to correct the mistakes of their mates because the entire profession is one corrupt fraternity.
As speculated before, 18 year old Michael Udebuluzor has completed a nationality switch to now be eligible to represent Hong Kong going forward. https://www.transfermarkt.com/michael-udebuluzor/profil/spieler/912850
I'm assuming Kim Shin Wook still hasn't been able to find his form yet for Kitchee. Other than that here is the final squad of the Hong Kong national football team to play Singapore and Malaysia: Goalkeepers YAPP Hung Fai (Eastern), DA SILVA ARGOLO Paulo Cesar (Kitchee), TSE Ka Wing (Woofoo Taipo) Defenders LILLEY NUNEZ Vasudeva Das (Dalian Professional), LEUNG Kwun Chung, WONG Tsz Ho (Eastern), GONCALVES Helio Jose De Souza (Kitchee), TSUI Wang Kit (Lee Man), YUE Tze Nam (Meizhou Hakka), LI Ngai Hoi (Nan Tong Zhiyun), LEUNG Nok Hang (Zhejiang FC) Midfielders WU Chun Ming (Eastern), HUANG Yang, NGAN Cheuk Pan(Kitchee), JU Yingzhi (Kwoon Chung Southern), WONG Wai (Lee Man), CHAN Siu Kwan Philip (RCFC) Forwards SUN Ming Him, WONG Ho Chun Anson (Eastern), ORR Matthew Elliot Wing Kai (Guangxi Pingguo Haliao), LAW Tsz Chun, POON Pui Hin (Kitchee) Well at least that is one part of the HKFA's Vision 2025 document finally coming in to fruition and it is courtesy of Jorn Andersen who I am sure he must had played a role to convince Udebuluzor to play for Hong Kong. It does make me wonder which other players could follow suit?
Does anyone know if Gerbig got injured in that last match against Tai Po? And is why he got left out of the HK squad?
If you read between the lines Andersen's answer regarding the potential of losing Leon Jones to China, he seemed like he wasn't too fussed because there's a lot of depth at CB. The same would apply to Gerbig, simply that other players are better and there's a lots of competition.
Eh, I guess I agree with Jones - he hasn't been playing a lot for Eastern - but not sure about Gerbig. Both these players are 24; the only 2 CB's ahead of Gerbig would be Leung Nok Hang and Vas Nunez, and there's no guarantee they can play all the time or avoid injuries (they only have 8 combined caps). It would be wise to drop Helio and include Gerbig at the very least. I would rank Gerbig ahead of U23 CB's like Leung Yau Wai and Yip Cheuk man (who are only 3 years younger btw).
We'll have to agree to disagree on Gerbig's performances then. I think he just "looks good" because Kitchee defenders are rarely tested; Their attacking players are fantastic at keeping possession and winning it back. That's why when Wang Zhenpeng/Paolo Cesar commit a howler, it looks worse because they only face 1-2 shots per game. The last time Kitchee defenders were put under the cosh, BG Pathum ate them alive. Like this goal for example, was scored by Ikhsan Fandi (who fortunately won't be playing for Singapore on Thursday) after he's able to turn away from Gerbig. This is the type of striker who he will face at the international level and he lost the battle. This is one is both the fault of Helio and Gerbig. Helio doesn't do a good job of stopping the cross in and Gerbig loses track of Teerasil at the back post. It illustrates the flaws of both Helio and Gerbig. Jones actually has to do some defending at Eastern, but he's injured unfortunately, otherwise he'd get a call up.