Hong Kong 08 face a long, hard struggle
It's been a rough ride so far for Hong Kong 08, who have lost three straight games since the start of the new season earlier this month.
The squad, comprising mostly teenagers who are still studying or working full-time, were hammered 5-0 by South China on Monday. On this evidence, it's going to be a long, hard campaign for Hong Kong 08, who are making their debut in the Hong Kong First Division.
The latest defeat followed a 4-0 loss to Rangers 11 days ago, and their opening 2-1 loss away to mainland side Lanwa on September 4.
The team, being groomed for the 2008 Olympics, showed flashes of the technique required to compete at this level, but their lack of fitness and a tendency to make schoolboy errors let them down.
'Many of us are still at school and this is a big challenge for us,' admitted the team's captain, Wong Shun-him, 20. 'Our defensive play is our strong point, but we are being outclassed technically, and our speed and stamina are also poor. We are much younger than the other teams who all train full-time. We will keep doing our best. I think we are already improving.'
Hong Kong 08's solitary goal this season came from forward Cheng Lai-hin against Lanwa. Wong hopes there will be more goals, if not victories.
'If we can win one or two games this season, and score over five goals, that would be an achievement,' Wong said.
Kenny Lai Sun-cheung, Hong Kong 08's co-coach who is also in charge of the Hong Kong national squad, was honest about his young side's performance.
'After three matches they have gained a good impression of what top-level football is all about,' said Lai. 'It may be a shock for them. They are seeing that professional football is not easy.
'Nobody is expecting them to perform miracles this season. They are in this competition to learn from their mistakes, and to develop. We will support them, and we are confident they will improve. After every game they must be asking themselves questions, and thinking about why they lost, and how they could have played differently.
'If they do this, they will improve. We want them to keep their spirits up, think positively, and keep on training hard and learning.'
Hong Kong 08 next face Kitchee on Sunday at Mongkok Stadium.
