HKAAA bothered by use of TKO ground
The Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, a venue built for athletics, will be used for domestic soccer for the first time when Kitchee kick off their 'home' match against Citizen in the BMA First Division tonight.
The Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (HKAAA) has voiced concern at the prospect of more soccer matches being held at the venue, which opened last year for the East Asian Games.
'We know there will be more soccer matches at the venue this season, but we want to make it clear we are the primary user of the venue, and our training at this venue should not be affected,' said HKAAA vice-chairman Simon Yeung Sai-mo. 'We hope the authorities understand we are also short of training grounds, and that some of our field-event athletes have been asked to train in mainland China during the holidays because of venue problems.'
The Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground (TKO) was used for international soccer last season only when Tai Po hosted their three Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup group matches there. While TSW Pegasus will continue to use the stadium as their home ground in this year's AFC Cup first round, Kitchee will also make it their home base for all nine of their league matches this season.
'The TKO ground will be used more this season, but we hope this arrangement will only apply during a transition period before the reopening of Mong Kok Stadium next season,' Football Association deputy secretary Emily Lau Cheuk-chi said.
Kitchee, meanwhile, will continue to rely on new striker Roberto Losada, although the Spaniard failed to score in his Hong Kong debut against Pegasus two weeks ago. 'He has vast experience due to his long-term exposure in Spain's La Liga, and we are confident he will have an improved match provided we can support him better from our midfield,' said coach Josep Gombau.
