Stakes are high for ‘Butcher’ Brian Fok but he is relishing meaty challenge of Uruguayan football

By his own admission, Hong Kong footballer Brian Fok is a risk taker.

From China to Uruguay, via stints in Spain, Romania and Azerbaijan, the 23-year-old has travelled halfway across the globe in service of his nascent professional career. His goal is simple: to develop into a player capable of being a success at the highest level possible

“I can’t wait to get started,” he told the Post. “I played on Saturday for 20 minutes in a preseason game. I’m quite fit already because I’ve been on preseason with Shenhua.

“I’ve got to adapt to the game here and I speak virtually no Spanish, but everything’s going alright. The coach saw what he needed in those 20 minutes and once I start adapting to the culture and get through the jet lag he’ll start working with me.

“When it comes to Spanish I know the basics, but I don’t know much for football to instruct the players around me. With my style, I’m the leader at the back and I can’t communicate properly at the minute so we’re going to work on that.”

Signed by Shanghai Shenhua at the start of the 2014 season as a 19-year-old from Hong Kong Rangers, Fok has spent all but one of this four seasons on the books of the Chinese Super League side out on loan.

From CF Cracks in Spain to Romania’s ACS Berceni and AZAL in Azerbaijan, the Nigeria-born Hong Kong-raised defender has led a nomadic existence for most of his fledgling career. And while the rough and tumble of Uruguayan football – famous for its physicality – holds little fear for Fok, he is quick to praise his parent club for playing a key role in nurturing his talent.