Latest news with #HongKongTeam
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong have nothing to fear from China, Chan says
Philip Chan Siu-kwan fanned the flames ahead of Hong Kong's clash with China on Tuesday, saying the city had nothing to fear from opponents who were hardly 'Brazil or Argentina'. The midfielder, who returned from a three-month injury lay-off as a late substitute in Friday's 2-0 defeat by South Korea in the East Asian Football Championship, was in the Hong Kong team that beat China 2-1 in a friendly 18 months ago. While China tumbled out of World Cup qualifying contention last month, they are ranked 94th in the world, 53 places higher than Hong Kong. The teams are fighting to avoid finishing last in the tournament, after both were beaten by Japan and the hosts in their opening two games in Seoul. 'There is so much rivalry,' Chan said. 'China's football development is at a more advanced level than ours. 'They're very competitive, definitely higher than us in terms of ranking and ability. But we have the heart and desire … we've done great things over the past year or two, we've beaten them before, so why not [do it again]? With the standard of players we have, anything is possible.'
South China Morning Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Glory night for Hong Kong football must be start of something special
Every new sports arena, no matter how impressive, needs to bear witness to memorable events to become an iconic venue revered by fans. On Tuesday night, Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium played host to such an occasion. The city's football team snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory over India in a crucial match, cheered on by more than 42,000 ecstatic fans. As Hong Kong's head coach Ashley Westwood said, it will be talked about for years to come. But there is still work to be done. Advertisement The atmosphere was of a kind rarely seen at football matches in the city. The aim must be to ensure that the victory – and the celebrations accompanying it – are not a one-off. It should be the start of something special. Westwood has come under fire from fans. His name was booed before the match kicked off. Supporters have taken issue with his team selection, objecting to a perceived preference for naturalised players, as well as a recent goal drought. The coach has, however, led the team on a run of 10 successive international games without defeat. Most wins have been against lower-ranked opponents. But the dramatic victory over India, who were 53 places higher than Hong Kong in the global ratings going into the game, puts the city's team in a strong position to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals. They deserve support as they seek to reap the rewards of recent results. Hong Kong competed in the finals last year for the first time in more than half a century. The qualifying campaign will resume in October. Advertisement Hong Kong football needs all the backing it can get. The domestic game does not receive enough sponsorship or interest from fans. The local Premier League struggles to attract top players and attendances are low.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong should play all future matches at Kai Tak Stadium, goalscorer Pereira says
Hong Kong's match-winner Stefan Pereira said he hoped the city's football team could make Kai Tak Stadium their regular home after more than 42,000 fans roared them to victory there on Tuesday. A 1-0 defeat of India on the team's debut appearance at the new venue rewarded a crowd that dwarfed the 6,092 who showed up for a scoreless friendly with Nepal at Hong Kong Stadium last week. And Pereira, whose stoppage-time penalty earned Hong Kong three crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying points, was keen to harness the fervour on show. 'I hope this can become our home ground – the atmosphere is amazing and everyone saw how we played,' Pereira said. 'We've never felt something like this. 'When we saw so many people screaming and supporting us, and shouting 'ga yau', it was an amazing feeling. We will win games here if we have these people supporting us. Hong Kong players celebrate winning their first match at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang 'I hope many people celebrate this victory, and the fans come to games more and more.'
South China Morning Post
10-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong football fans flock to Kai Tak Sports Park ahead of historic encounter
Hundreds of eager Hong Kong football fans flocked to Kai Tak Sports Park hours before the historic and sell-out AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India on Tuesday evening. Tickets for the highly-anticipated first match at the new 50,000-seat stadium were sold out well ahead of time, with fans spotted queuing up at Kai Tak Mall for jerseys and official merchandise. The match, which kicks off at 8pm, will mark the first time the Hong Kong team has hosted an international match at their new home ground in front of an expected record-breaking attendance, with games previously played at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. Gordon Hui, a 20-year-old student from Hong Kong, voiced his unwavering support for the team, expressing hope of witnessing a victory on what promises to be a memorable occasion. 'Just by stats, we're not doing very well,' Hui admitted. 'But it's the vibes and the fans. So we've got like 50,000 fans today. We're supporting our team. We're supporting our city, our country. So I think they are going to try their best,' Hui said. 'I see many people already buying the Hong Kong team T-shirts and the new jerseys, but I've got it already, so I'm just waiting around to see if I can get other souvenirs.' More than 200 fans lined up at the mall before 11am in the hope of getting their hands on the limited number of Hong Kong jerseys, with the store cutting the queue before the store opened for sales at noon.
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
New blood and old heads give Hong Kong belief in netball World Cup bid
Hong Kong players old and new have high hopes they can win the Asian Netball Championships for the first time in more than 30 years, and qualify for the 2027 World Cup in the process. Advertisement In the past, the top two finishers in five regional qualifiers have progressed to the World Cup, alongside six other teams, including the host nation. In two years' time, that will be Australia. But the city's women do not have a great track record at the biennial regional tournament, having won it only once, when it was staged in Hong Kong in 1993. They have not managed to finish in the top three since then. The next tournament though will be held at Kai Tak Sports Park, and Gessy Li Ga-wing, 27, believed that would give her team its best chance of qualifying for the 'Olympic-like' tournament for the first time since 2003. 'Any netball player wants to go to the World Cup, it's like the Olympics for us,' said Li, who has been playing the sport for 15 years. 'We're still working to be an Olympic sport, so the World Cup is the highest level you can play. Advertisement 'The opportunity to play with the top teams like Australia and New Zealand excites me. I know this team can get there because we have a good mix of veterans and new players coming in.'
