Kitchee have revealed their new managerial team with Edgar Cadoso taking the role as head coach. Former Lee Man defender Fernando Recio makes a return to the club as an assistant coach role and will be joined by Portuguese assistant coach Stefano Sousa.
Hong Kong will play against the Philippines at home in November. Happy to see HK filling up their schedule from September to December, with plenty of high quality friendly matches.
Kitchee have revealed their next couple of foreign signings. Portuguese midfielder Luis Machado, Philippines centre back Diego Bardanca and English goalkeeper Fynn Talley formerly played for EFL League One club Peterborough United was previously part of Arsenal and Brighton Hove & Albion's youth set up.
In addition, Eric Fok confirmed that the Hong Kong national football team will be travelling to Fiji where they are to play against the hosts and Solomon Islands as well as a home international friendly fixture against Cambodia in October as well as the Philippines in November. He also confirmed that the new head coach will be unveiled early next month.
In addition to Timothy Chow, former HK U23 captain Tang In Chim joins Lee Man as does veteran goalkeeper Leung Hing Kit. It is also reported that Lee Man had also acquired Iraq international midfielder Jiloan Hamad.
It is officially confirmed that the Hong Kong national team will travel to Fiji to take on the hosts and Solomon Islands in a Tripartite tournament in September.
In addition, Kitchee started off their first training session with their new signings taking part. Ken Ng stated that they do have two more foreign signings (a forward and central midfielder) who will join up with the squad in Thailand for their friendly tie against Port FC. Also present in Kitchee's training session is Antoine Viterale who remains as a free agent as does Poon Pui Hin who had been speculated to join a China League One club. Kim Shin Wook who still has yet to maintain his match fitness was present as he and Buddle both trained on the sidelines.
Following the footsteps of his compatriot Fernando Recio, Jordi Tarres rejoins Kitchee as their new technical director of the club's youth academy.
Former Inter Milan and Italian defender Gianluca Festa revealed that he had applied of the vacant head coach role of the Hong Kong national football team.
Despite the heavy rain which affected a lot of the play during the second half, the women's team made it two wins out of two as they thrashed Indonesia by four goals.
Tai Po unveiled eight new signings joining the club which include the return of Igor Sartori (who was released by Kitchee a few days ago) along with former HK U23 members Kokhi Takizawa Sung Wang Ngai, Krisna Korani, Lee Lok Him, former Sham Shui Po players Tai Ting Hong, Pang Ching Yeung and Nicholas Benavides, ex-RCFC midfielder Jerry Lam Lok Yin and ex-BC Rangers midfielder Remi Dujardin. I really hope that Lee Chi Kin is able to capitalise on their signings.
Kitchee's first of its three pre-season against Police Tero FC ended in a 1-0 win with Chen Ngo Hin scoring the only goal.
Kitchee signed 32 years old Brazilian striker Welthon, he will wear no. 9 and has already joined the club for its pre-season warm-up in Thailand.
Aaron Rey (AM/winger) will be next. El ferrolano Aarón Rey jugará en el Kitchee Futbol Club de la Liga Premier de Hong Konghttps://t.co/0HADGETsVl pic.twitter.com/DLbCbhd3L8— MUCHACALIDAD (@MuchaCalidadG) July 24, 2024
Having impressed during two of Kitchee's pre season fixtures in Thailand, South Korean Bae Jae Woo who was initially a trialist officially joins the club. On the other hand, youngster Yuen Chun Him departs Kitchee as he is set to join a Spanish division club.
KC Southern District signed 28 years old Brazilian striker Rocha Mendes Da Silva Gregory. He will wear no. 9.
A change in direction for Hong Kong Football Club as Chancey Cooke takes the head coach position replacing Tony Hamilton-Bram along with several fresh young players from Lai Hoi To to Wong Sum Chit joining the club.
Here is the 46-man preliminary squad for their upcoming friendly fixtures against Fiji and Solomon Islands. There is a first senior team call up for young BC Rangers' Sergio Chiu Ching Yu who was named as the best young player within last season's Sapling Cup. Alex Jojo, Clement Benhaddouche, Timothy Chow, Dudu, Ng Yu Hei and Pong Cheuk Hei who have yet to win an international cap are also named.
Huang Yang featured for Kitchee as he played 19 minutes during the club's pre-season friendly match against Atletico Madrid which was his final game before he retired. Having watched the match, I will say that some of their new signings had impressed especially with Luis Machado, Jay Haddow and Fynn Talley (had some decent saves.) Will say that I felt Tan Chun Lok had a rather bad game throughout the match.
Man Utd U16 was in Hong Kong at HK Jockey Club's invitation. They played two matches over 3 days against HKPL youth players and Hong Kong U16. Man Utd won both matches 1-0 and 3-0 respectively. I guess it is good for Hong Kong's young players to have this opportunity to play against overseas opposition in front of a good crowd. Both local teams played well and hopefully they will continue to improve, especially their fitness levels.
Also to add, this will be a good way to get them prepared for their upcoming AFC U20 and AFC U16 qualifiers coming up within the next two months. Although I feel that the U16 team will have a rather daunting and tough task to qualify especially since they had been drawn with North Korea, Syria, Jordan and Iran (whom Hong Kong had previously faced with disastrous results.)