Hong Kong's coach has demanded that his team replace the League XI in Hong Kong's annual showcase, the Carlsberg Cup.
Kenny Lai Sun-cheung said his team's performance against Japan on Sunday had shown that a true Hong Kong side was now ready to play in the lunar New Year competition, which in recent years has attracted high-level nations like Uruguay, Denmark, Japan and Nigeria, instead of the composite side featuring the SAR's top foreign stars.
'In the Asian Cup and this competition the Hong Kong team has become courageous. We've shown heart. We have hope. We have a future. We can be a good team as long as we keep playing strong opposition,' Lai said. 'We need a real team in the tournament. If we play in that we will have a good chance against the foreign teams and we will get more experience. Maybe we could have the Hong Kong team, the Hong Kong League XI and two foreign teams.'
The Hong Kong Football Association greeted Lai's request with some enthusiasm. General secretary Martin Lam said it would be discussed with the local representatives of the sponsor.
'Definitely with the sponsor we will seriously look at who the team should be. Some fans, some of the press and even some people within the FA are saying we have a decent national team now and we should enter that team,' Lam said.
'Even if it is a League XI, the local players should dominate, not like two or three years ago when Luk Koon-pong was the only local player. Personally I support the Hong Kong team taking part.