Come and join us, Shenhua star Fan urges local league clubs

Mainland players encouraged Hong Kong clubs to join their professional league after the sport's top officials urged the territory's clubs to campaign for places in the mainland league.

Reigning Chinese Footballer of the Year Fan Zhiyi, who will play in tomorrow's Reunification Cup, said Hong Kong teams could improve themselves through their participation in the Chinese league, which turned professional in 1994.

'It is a good idea that Hong Kong clubs should try to get a place in our league,' said Fan, who also won the annual award in 1995.

'Hong Kong soccer is rather semi-professional than professional. It could be lifted to more professional if Hong Kong clubs competed in our league.' The Chinese Professional League is divided into two divisions - the 12-team First Division 'A' and the 12-team First Division 'B', which is equivalent to a second division.

But the 27-year-old national midfielder-defender added that not too many Hong Kong clubs could compete with the First Division 'A' teams.

'I have played against Instant-Dict and seen South China and Happy Valley play. The overall standard is not very high though they have some brilliant players,' said the Shanghai Shenhua star.

'They may not be competitive enough in the First Division 'A', but they could start in the First Division 'B'.