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South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong hosting Saudi Super Cup shows deepening ties, football chief Fok says
Hosting the Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong denoted a 'strengthening of the ties' with the desert kingdom, and reflected the city's growing status as a world-class sporting hub, local football chief Eric Fok Kai-shan said on Wednesday. Speaking at the official launch of next month's tournament – which, with Kai Tak Stadium unavailable, will be held at Hong Kong Stadium – Fok called it an 'opportunity to showcase our city's energy, hospitality and passion for football'. It will mark the first time the Super Cup has been played in East Asia, with Hong Kong becoming only the second place it has been held outside Saudi Arabia, after London hosted it three times from 2015. Discussions over staging the 12th edition had begun soon after the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) and their Saudi counterparts had signed a memorandum of understanding last November, Fok said. Eric Fok, the HKFA chairman, speaks at Wednesday's launch. Photo: Elson Li 'For the HKFA and our team to improve, we need to connect internationally, learn from others, and this conversation came up when we were talking about collaborating,' the association's chairman said. And while promoters Sum KM Sport appear to be relative novices when it comes to staging major events of any kind, Fok seemed confident that fans hoping to see Cristiano Ronaldo would not be disappointed.
South China Morning Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Brazil will not be visiting Hong Kong any time soon, says HKFA boss Eric Fok
Eric Fok Kai-shan has revealed that the immediate future of Hong Kong football will feature Eastern District, but not the Brazil national team. Eastern District have been accepted into the Hong Kong Premier League for the 2025-26 season, although Chinese fourth-tier club Canton United's application has been knocked back. Fok, the chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), told the Post: 'Eastern District met all our requirements; they will join the Premier League, so we will have 10 teams next season.' Fok also said Brazil were unlikely to come to Hong Kong any time soon. Paul Chan Mo-po, the financial secretary, recently said he was optimistic the record five-time world champions would visit for a friendly in the near future. Although Fok acknowledged Brazil were 'interested and we would welcome it', he pointed to a congested fixture calendar. Eastern District (in yellow) finished eighth in the 2024-25 First Division. Photo: Chan Kin-wa He said Hong Kong, who have Asian Cup qualifiers in October and November, were already arranging friendlies for the Fifa window in September. The Post has been told the city team are set to return to Fiji for a tournament that could also feature Thailand.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong fighting to have best team available for Manchester United clash
Hong Kong will select the 'best team possible' for this month's game against Manchester United, but football bosses said they were still negotiating the release of players based in mainland China. Advertisement Clubs from the Chinese Super League and China League One could be reluctant to cooperate for a fixture that falls outside the summer Fifa window, given they are in the early stages of their campaigns. Four of Hong Kong's 11 starters for an Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in March were from CSL clubs, while another three from mainland teams came off the bench. 'Our head coach and his team will select the best players they can, it will be on a case-by case-basis, but we are definitely trying to get what we can,' Eric Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, said. 'We want the best team possible, it's not only a fantastic opportunity to play a global club, and bring joy to fans and players, it's a very serious match to prepare for our Asian Cup qualifier against India.' Midfielder Ngan Cheuk-pan's Kitchee contract expires one day after the Manchester United match. Photo: HKFA Fok also downplayed any concerns over obtaining insurance for players whose club contracts expire this summer.
