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SCMP Reporter

FORMER Dundee United striker Peter Hinds last night packed his bags ready to take the next flight home after leaving South China on a bitter note.

  Barbados-born Portuguese Hinds said that he would never play for South China again, complaining that his trip to Hong Kong and to Kaohsiung had been a 'waste of time'.

  Hinds, who was on trial with South China, argued that he didn't have a chance to show his true worth in the Feng Shan Cup which is being played in this Taiwanese city.

  The Feng Shan Cup was one of two chances Hinds had of making an impression with the team - and earning a season-long contract with the Caroliners.

  But the Portuguese striker was yesterday left on the bench as South China thrashed Hong Kong First Division rivals Golden 4-0 in the fifth-place play-off. 'If I had known beforehand that I didn't have a chance of playing, I would not have come to Hong Kong,' said 32-year-old Hinds, who claimed that South China did not give him a chance to play a full game.

  'They only let me play two second halves and that's not enough for me to show what I can do.

  'For me, a forward should have his own area, and that is to play at the very front, but South China seem to play all their midfielders up front.'   Hinds, who played for Portuguese Second Division side Varzim before arriving in the territory last week, is confident of finding a new club in Portugal.

  The Caroliners' other new signing, Alex da Rocha, suffered the same fate as Hinds - automatic rejection - even though he had played just 14 minutes in Kaohsiung.

  Both Hinds and da Rocha's probation periods end on Friday when South China play Brazilian side Flamengo in an exhibition match in Guangzhou but both players will have flown home by then.

  Meanwhile, South China outclassed Golden thanks to a double strike by former Golden hitman Alen Bajkusa.

  Bajkusa, who was recalled by the Caroliners after a highly successful loan spell with Golden last season, struck both his goals in the first half as his side took charge.

  Former Portuguese international striker Pedro Xavier made it 3-0 with a powerful header in the 66th minute and Golden left-back Yau Wo-kan completed the rout 12 minutes from time with an own goal.

  Golden coach Wong Yiu-shun described their tour as a failure.

  'We are a commercial team and it will be difficult to face our sponsors after these results,' said Wong, whose team were thrashed 6-2 by Kaohsiung after earning a 2-2 draw with the Japanese-North Koreans in the opening match.

  'We weren't able to play our strongest side and didn't have enough time to prepare since we were given very short notice that we were to replace Eastern.'  Tiger Beer is to sponsor its first football challenge in China featuring Hong Kong club Happy Valley and mainland teams Guangdong, Shenzhen and Foshan.

  The Tiger Beer Challenge Cup will kick-off on August 25 with the final scheduled for two days later at the Guangdong Provincial Sports Stadium.

 In other news, Eastern are poised to sign former Maidstone United and Gillingham midfielder Liburd Henry as a replacement for Ross Greer who has joined Instant-Dict.



Hinds to fly home after nightmare trial with Caroliners