Incredible match! For all the good and bad, ups and downs, a 1-0 win over India in this crucial fixture and first home match at Kai Tak is exactly what was needed. Many ugly moments in the match but it won't matter now - 3 points in the bag!
Well Westwood proved to be a lucky fellow. I didn't think Michael would score if he had just kept going but the Indian keeper made a mistake. Stefan Perreira was unlikely to miss from the penalty spot, after scoring so many in the league. We now face Bangladesh home and away in October and we must win those if we are to stay in the hunt. Then on 18 Nov we will play Singapore at home which could be crucial. But the National Games Rugby Sevens tournament will be held at Kai Tak Stadium on 12-14 Nov which means the pitch may not be fit for purpose on 18 Nov. We will have to see how the HKFA deal with it. I think most likely the Singapore match will be moved to the Hong Kong Stadium, since the National Games will never move.
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/foot...unning-tifo-display-in-1-0-victory-over-India Hong Kong football entered a new era on Wednesday night (June 10) as a record crowd of 42,570 witnessed not only a crucial 1-0 win against India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifier but also the city's first-ever massive Tifo display at the new Kai Tak Sports Park. The breathtaking “Hong Kong Team Kick Ass” banner, covering three entire stands at 40x40 meters, stunned attendees during pre-match ceremonies. The display marked a significant milestone for local football culture, traditionally seen only in football-strong nations like those in Europe or South America. Fan representative Chester, who helped coordinate the surprise, revealed on a radio program this morning that the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) masterminded the project. "I cried multiple times last night," Chester admitted. "First when we raised the Tifo, then again during the players' entrance video - something we've only seen in Premier League or J.League matches before." The HKFA's unprecedented efforts included producing player introduction videos, complete with individual player animations - a first for Hong Kong football. "You could really feel how much preparation went into making Kai Tak feel like home," Chester added, describing the experience as "goosebump-inducing." The Tifo remained a closely guarded secret, with only a few dozen insiders aware before the match. Chester explained that HKFA staff had quietly reached out to fan groups weeks earlier to orchestrate the surprise "housewarming gift" for the new stadium. Beyond the spectacle, the match itself delivered historic significance as Hong Kong secured their first victory at the state-of-the-art venue. Chester called it "an unforgettable, landmark moment" for local football. Looking ahead, Hong Kong fans are already planning to bring this newfound energy abroad, with Chester mentioning potential trips to support the team in South Korea this July. While acknowledging the challenges of traveling to India for away matches, he confirmed supporters are exploring options to maintain this momentum. The successful event has set a new standard for football culture in Hong Kong, proving the city can match the passionate displays seen in football's traditional heartlands while creating its own distinctive identity.
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/foot...gon-Ball-inspired-tifo-to-life-in-just-1-week From concept to kickoff: Bringing HK’s Dragon Ball-inspired tifo to life in just 1 week The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has unveiled the creative process behind the massive 44m x 26m Tifo displayed during Tuesday’s match against India at Kai Tak Sports Park, revealing that the entire project—from conception to execution—was completed in just one week. In a radio program on Thursday, HKFA General Secretary Charles Cheung Yim-yau and marketing manager Ho shared how the idea came to life, including an unexpected Dragon Ball twist. A last-minute idea to boost fan engagement Cheung explained that the HKFA had been working for over a year to strengthen ties with fans. "We started thinking about ways to interact more with supporters and understand what they wanted," he said. Before the Kai Tak match, discussions with fan groups led to the idea of creating something special for the new stadium. The inspiration came after seeing fans craft handmade paper displays during Hong Kong’s previous match against Nepal at the Hong Kong Stadium. "We thought, Could we do something bigger at Kai Tak?" Cheung said. While Tifos are common in international football, they are rare in Hong Kong—especially one of this scale. A race against time Ho, who coordinated the project, said the HKFA wanted to surprise the players and fans. After consulting supporters during the Nepal match, fan groups loved the idea but doubted it could be done in less than a week. "I immediately said we could make it happen," she recalled. The HKFA agreed to cover the full production cost, calling it "a gift to the players." The supplier worked around the clock, receiving the order last Friday and delivering the Tifo by Tuesday. The Dragon Ball connection When asked about the Tifo’s dragon design, Ho laughed, "Our marketing designer is a huge Dragon Ball fan—he even has a Shenron figure on his desk!" She also noted that the team wanted an intimidating yet iconic image to unsettle opponents. In Dragon Ball, Shenron grants wishes—so what’s her wish for the Hong Kong team? "I hope they win every match!" she said. Future plans and costs Whether the Tifo will be reused remains undecided. "We might make an even bigger one next time," Ho said, adding that some fans proposed cutting the current display into smaller pieces for fans to keep as souvenirs, should the tifo not be reused. As for the cost, she declined to give figures but hinted at a "friendly discount" from the supplier. When the host guessed if it exceeded HK$100,000, Cheung interjected, "That’s too much!" Player walkout intros added last minute The pre-match video of player walkouts was another last-minute addition, according to Ho. "We only told the players after the Nepal game, telling them to show up to training on the next day with their hair styled!" Ho said. The high-definition clips were possible thanks to Kai Tak’s advanced facilities. "Our team practically camped at the stadium the night before, testing everything," she added. The HKFA hopes such initiatives will not only energize die-hard fans but also attract new audiences to local football. With more surprises in store, Hong Kong’s football culture might just be entering a new era.
Philip Chan Siu-Kwan appeared on DoDo Cheng's radio show today and said he is almost ready to return. So hopefully he will play in the EAFF East Asia Cup in July.
Is it safe to say that Everton Camargo could possibly remain sidelined for the upcoming E-1 EAFF East Asia Cup finals next month?
Vericose vein surgery according to his wife. Google says patients return to work within 6-8 weeks but this is for non-athletes.
More transfer speculation: BC Rangers could look set to land Chen Hao from Hong Kong Football Club. Probably likely to act as Barak Braunshtain's replacement (considering that he is speculated to be going to Lee Man.) In addition, it is currently rumoured that Chu Chi Kwong could be heading over to manage Eastern District.
https://www.hkfa.com/en/news/latest-news/21883/detail Hong Kong, China Representative Team will participate in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final Korea Republic from 8 July to 15 July in Korea Republic. The preliminary squad with 47 players is as follows: Goalkeepers YAPP Hung Fai (Eastern), NG Wai Him, NGAN Ngo Tin (Kwoon Chung Southern), CHAN Ka Ho (Lee Man), TSE Ka Wing (Tai Po), Shliakotin OLEKSII Defenders: Christian Alexander JOJO (Eastern), Oliver Benjamin GERBIG (Henan F.C.), Leon JONES (Kitchee), CHOW Timothy Stephen, Luis Eduardo CHEBEL KLEIN NUNES, YU Wai Lim (Lee Man), YUE Tze Nam (Meizhou Hakka), CHAN Shinichi (Shanghai Shenhua), LEE Ka Ho, Nicholas BENAVIDES MEDEIROS (Tai Po), SUN Ming Him (Tianjin Jinmen Tiger), TSUI Wang Kit (Yunnan Yukun), Clement Sami Nicolas BENHADDOUCHE, GONCALVES Helio Jose De Souza, LILLEY NUNEZ Vasudeva Das, TSANG Lok To Jeremy Midfielders: MA Hei Wai (Eastern), NGAN Cheuk Pan, POON Pui Hin, TAN Chun Lok (Kitchee), Sohgo ICHIKAWA (Kwoon Chung Southern), WONG Wai (Lee Man), WONG Ho Chun Anson (Qingdao Hainiu), YU Jesse Joy Yin (Shijiazhuang Gongfu), CHAN Siu Kwan Philip (Tai Po), Anthony PINTO, Fernando Augusto AZEVEDO PEDREIRA, TSANG Yi Hang Ellison. Forwards: LAU Chi Lok (BC Rangers), NG Yu Hei (Chongqing Tonglianglong), Matthew Luke SLATTERY, SOARES BELITARDO JUNIOR Walter (Kitchee), Awal MAHAMA, Stefan FIGUEIREDO PEREIRA (Kwoon Chung Southern), Everton CAMARGO, LAU Ka Kiu (Lee Man), Raphael Ayrton Lee MERKIES (Shandong Taishan), ORR Matthew Elliot Wing Kai (Shenzhen Peng City F.C.), LEE Lok Him (Tai Po), Michael Chibuikem UDEBULUZOR (VfR Mannheim), Manuel BLEDA RODRIGUEZ ============================================ It seems Ashley Westwood has listed everyone possible for this preliminary squad. I am very sure some of them will not travel to South Korea. Especially Everton Camargo as it seems he just had an operation and can't possibly be ready to play.
Adding to that, there are first senior call ups for some of the players who did featured for the Under-23s with Ngan Ngo Tin who played a part during KC Southern's Sapling Cup win, as well as Tai Po's Lee Lok Him. Uncapped Lee Ka Ho who was last called up to the senior team six years ago under Mixu Paatelainen's reign also gets a long awaited recall. Speaking of Vas Nunez: He has signed for China League One club Yanbian Longding. In addition, Ma Hei Wai was also seen having a medical at Shaanxi Union FC.
I am shocked that in a 47 man squad, Lam Hin Ting and Wu Chun Ming were not even considered (unless injured?)
Sounds like the 2025/26 season of the Hong Kong Premier League will have two additional teams with First Division side Eastern District and former Chinese Fourth Tier side Canton United looking set to join.
According to Ken Ng, Kitchee will slowly announce signings ahead of the starting of training camp on 8 July. More importantly, he says that the Kitchee could be the first club to move into the Kai Tak Youth Ground. Sportsroad says rent will cost at least $80,000 but I've heard that it's closer to $90,000 when lights and video boards are factored in. Main issue for the ground is that there are many areas for fans to watch games for free without buying a ticket.
Lee Man announced several player departures in which the majority of their foreign players with the exception of Ryoya Tachibana have been released alongside local players Wong Chun Ho, Jim Ho Chun, Tang In Chim, Wong Lok Kaa and Timothy Chow who chose to depart to pursue his studies abroad. It has been speculated that the club have signed former Eastern striker and recent HKPL Player of the Year Noah Baffoe, Brazilian defender Willian Gaucho from Kowloon City and Barak Braunshtain of Rangers who is currently applying for a HKSAR passport. In addition, Kitchee announced further player departures with Leon Jones, Poon Pui Hin, Sohgo Ichikawa and Yeung Cheuk Kwan. Ichikawa is set to join KC Southern after spending a season long loan during the 24/25 season whilst Poon has been linked with Changchun Yatai of the Chinese Super League, although nothings come to fruition as of yet. So far the club has been speculated to have signed Callum Beattie from Hong Kong Football Club as well as North District's Brazilian midfielder Kendy and it has also been reported that goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Hei is likely to join as well.
Update from my previous post. Apparently it has been reported that Poon Pui Hin is looking set to join a top 3 HKPL club which could be between Tai Po, Eastern or Lee Man.
Here is the final 28 man squad named for the E-1 EAFF East Asia Cup Finals which will commence next week: A number of returning faces which include Wong Wai, Jesse Yu Joy Yin, Chan Siu Kwan and Matt Orr are back in the squad. As expected, Everton is still recovering from his injury whilst Manuel Bleda misses out. Tai Po's Lee Ka Ho has made it in to the final cut for the very first time.
Kitchee have unveiled Spaniard Inigo Calderon as their new head coach to succeed Edgar Cardoso. It is believed that John Morling recommended Calderon to the club. Calderon who was a former Brighton & Hove Albion player who coached the youth teams before he made his first managerial career with English Football League One club Bristol Rovers (although it is hard to see how he fares considering that the results he achieved at Bristol Rovers were not quite promising looking at his record.) Speaking of transfers, Lee Man unveiled their first foreign signing with 32 year old Georgian midfielder Merabi Giguari joining the club.
According to Eric Fok, Eastern District will be promoted to the 2025/26 season of the HKPL after their application has been accepted. It is also reported that Ng Wai Chiu will be appointed as Eastern District's new head coach whilst there has been speculation that former Kitchee defender Helio is set to join. However, Canton United's application has been rejected.
Kitchee's Facebook page has confirmed Ngan's departure and it is now looking increasingly likely that he will be joining Tai Po FC.