Big name hunt on for Dons meeting
MICHELOTTI team boss Sammy Yu is confident of drawing a big name to guest for his side when they face English Premier League club Wimbledon at Mongkok next month.
Former England international Glenn Hoddle, now Swindon Town's player-manager, is high on his list together with Queen's Park Rangers' Ray Wilkins and Garry Thompson, elder brother of Ernest Borel's Keith Thompson.
Said Yu, who is organising the May 15 exhibition clash: ''We have a few very good English players interested in coming and we will know by the end of the month which one will play.
''Hoddle said he's willing to come, despite his club having a chance of winning promotion to the English Premier League.
''We are having discussions with Wilkins and it also looks positive at the moment.
''We might also use Carlton Fairweather, who currently plays for Wimbledon, to guest star for us.
''We have had preliminary discussions and we are quite hopeful of drawing one big name from Britain. We are finding the best player and the one who would give the most entertainment to the spectators.
But Yu added: ''We are waiting for the best choice and we are not going to rush into things.'' Wimbledon, who gained worldwide fame in 1988 with a shock FA Cup final win over favourites Liverpool, will bring a full squad to the territory.
Meanwhile, South China defender George Haniotis will not be offered a new contract for next season.
But the club are certain to fix up striker Anto Grabo with new terms.
Grabo was last week named best attacking player at the Viceroy Cup tournament and has a good chance of being named best foreign player of the season.
Club official Bruce Mok said Grabo's strike partner Billy Whitehurst has a 50 per cent chance of being retained.
Hongkong will play all their preliminary Group D World Cup matches in the afternoon in Beirut.
Hongkong, who have been drawn against Bahrain, Lebanon, India and South Korea, will play their opening match against Bahrain on May 7.
May 7 - Hongkong v Bahrain; Lebanon v India. May 9 - South Korea v Bahrain; Lebanon v Hongkong. May 11 - India v Hongkong; Lebanon v South Korea. May 13 - India v South Korea; Lebanon v Bahrain. May 15 - Bahrain v India; Hongkong v South Korea.
