Come and play with us: Hong Kong Football Club seek new players ahead of Premier League return
Having provisionally been accepted to join the expanded 11-team top-flight for the coming 2016/17 season, the Happy Valley-based club will hold an open trial on Wednesday night to have a look at potential new recruits
How do you fancy playing in the Hong Kong Premier League as a professional player next season? Well, having provisionally been accepted to join the expanded 11-team top-flight for the coming 2016/17 season, Hong Kong Football Club are looking for players.
And with new rules which change the definition of who will be considered as one of the six overseas players allowed in a squad for the following 2017/18 season, the Happy Valley-based club are on the lookout for Hong Kong passport holders as they seek to build a squad capable of securing consecutive seasons in the top-flight for only the second time in their history.
Hong Kong Football Club again finished runners-up in the second-tier last season, and subject to approval by the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) next week, will join First Division champions Tai Po, Hong Kong Sapling and Chinese Super League side Guanzghou R&F, who are expected to field a development squad, as new additions to the Premier League for the coming season.
Those additions, though, are offset by Dreams Metro Gallery pulling out due to financial problems having finished sixth last season and relegated Wong Tai Sin not seeking dispensation to stay in the top-flight.
“Now a local will be defined not my residency, but by Fifa it will be considered on nationality. Now the HKFA will recognise a player not as a seven-year resident, but by their passport,” said Hong Kong Football Club first team manager Richard Ewart.