A MASSIVE win bonus may not be enough to ensure Hong Kong victory over Guangdong in the first leg of the interport soccer clash at the Hong Kong Stadium today.
Playing without three foreign players for the first time in four years, Hong Kong will be looking to exceed expectations against the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cup holders, who showed their class last year by easily winning both legs 2-0.
Victory in both legs will be worth more than $500,000 to the territory.
The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has bumped up its selection and appearance fees and win bonuses towards a maximum of $9,000 per player.
On top of that, Hong Kong team managers Bruce Mok Bong-tung and Benny Tang Kar-hung have offered the squad $100,000 if they win the first leg and another $100,000 if they win over the border in next Sunday's second leg. Overall victory will be worth another $100,000.
But such financial incentives might not be enough for a team prepared to give local players a chance to shine at the expense of expatriate players, against a classy side at full strength.
