Hongkong put faith in Eastern players
TEAM of the season Eastern provide six of the 16-strong Hongkong squad for this month's Lunar New Year Carlsberg Cup at Mongkok Stadium.
But two of Eastern's best Chinese players, midfielder Tam Siu-wai and right-winger Lee Kin-wo, have been omitted.
Although one of the four team managers, Kimmy Shuen, said Tam and Lee were left out because Eastern had an important league game against Ernest Borel on January 29 - three days after the final day of the tournament - it is believed they are reluctant to play for one of the other team managers, Kui Tan's Benny Tang.
Tang upset several players with comments he made after the Hongkong squad for a friendly against Norway last November was announced by Eastern boss Lam Kin-ming.
Ten of the 16 places are taken by overseas players, including the Eastern trio of goalkeeper Iain Hesford, midfielder Ross Greer and striker Dale Tempest. There is no room, however, for striker Paul Nixon and midfielder Tim O'Shea, who will return to the territory on Saturday after surgery on a fractured cheekbone.
Instant-Dict also provide three overseas players in centre-forward Marko Perinovic, midfielder Townsend Qin and left-winger Adrian Thorpe, while Kitchee supply centre-half Jon Widdows and midfielder Sean Edwards, both of whom played for Hongkong in the 3-3 draw with Norway. South China centre-half George Haniotis and striker Anto Grabo complete the overseas contingent.
The six local Chinese players are Kitchee goalkeeper Chung Ho-yin and sweeper Yau Kin-wai, Eastern defenders Chan Chi-keung, Chiu Chun-ming and Lee Wai-man and Ernest Borel striker Au Wai-lun.
Squad: Chung Ho-yin, Iain Hesford, Chan Chi-keung, Yau Kin-wai, Jon Widdows, Chiu Chun-ming, George Haniotis, Lee Wai-man, Sean Edwards, Townsend Qin, Marko Perinovic, Au Wai-lun, Ross Greer, Anto Grabo, Dale Tempest and Adrian Thorpe.
Kui Tan are interested in signing left-sided midfielder Graham Cooper, formerly of Huddersfield Town, Wrexham and Halifax Town, who has been recommended to the club by former Huddersfield teammate Dale Tempest. Experienced striker Mark Falco is set to join Kui Tan next month.
The Hongkong Football Association are trying to bring forward the date of the interport match against Shanghai from June 27 to before the World Cup qualifiers in Lebanon in May.
