YFCMD face foreign player conundrum in AFC Cup play-off
Club could be missing their foreign players if they reach the competition final next month
YFCMD are facing a race against time to complete all their local matches in the AFC Cup play-off by the end of the month because their foreign players are due to return home after their work permits expire.
Coach Lee Chi-kin's worries were deepened on Saturday when torrential rain forced their AFC Cup play-off against Sun Pegasus at Mong Kok Stadium to be abandoned midway through the game with Pegasus leading 1-0.
It will be quite difficult to fit in a day for the replay, but if we won the replay and have to play the final next month, we won't have any of our foreign players left
"We know the schedule is pretty tight as there is also another AFC Cup round of 16 match on Tuesday," said Lee. "It will be quite difficult to fit in a day for the replay, but if we won the replay and have to play the final next month, we won't have any of our foreign players left."
South China reached the play-off final after beating Eastern 2-0 on Thursday. The Caroliners will also meet Bengaluru of India in the AFC Cup at Mong Kok Stadium next Tuesday. Sun Pegasus were leading 1-0, thanks to an early goal by Sham Kwok-keung before the heavens opened before half time.
The match was called off after a 30-minute delay for the start of the second half. That means the match will be replayed over 90 minutes - probably in June.
Big-spending Pegasus are hoping to salvage something out of their disappointing season and the AFC play-off is their last hope for any silverware. Before the downpour, Pegasus were dominant in the first half, with Sham coming close to scoring a brace when his shot was denied by the crossbar.
"The boys showed a strong determination to win amid recent speculations about the club's future," said Pegasus coach Chan Chi-hong. "It's a pity all their efforts came to nothing as we have to prepare to play the replay."
The Sun Group, the club's major financier, said it would not continue their financial backing but a new sponsor has been found according to Chan.
