South China face Kitchee in major test of title credentials
South China look to regain upper hand against defending champions
Judgment day comes early for South China today when they put their title credentials to the test against arch-rivals Kitchee in a top-of-the-table RedMR First Division clash at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Caroliners have been overshadowed by champions Kitchee over the past two seasons but have wooed a number of quality players from rival clubs in the summer and brought in new faces from overseas.
The signing of Pegasus' Lee Hong-lim and Manoel Santos, along with Luk Chi-ho and Jack Sealy from Sunray Cave Sun Hei, have strengthened the team in defence and attack.
Their firepower has been further boosted by three Brazilians - striker Leandro Rodrigues, attacking midfielder Carlos Bertoldi and Mauro da Silva, a 28-year-old striker who played top flight football in Brazil during a loan spell at Fluminense in 2004.
A new centre-half, Sean Tse Ka-keung, has also joined from the academy of English Premier League side Manchester City.
"We are a much stronger side than last season and this game will test how good we are," said coach Liu Chun-fai, who replaced Jan Kocian after the Slovak left following a season without silverware. "The two teams are very close. It's hard to predict the result.