Local players and officials have praised Sebastiao Pereira Araujo's coaching techniques. The former Brazilian assistant national coach, who arrived here on December 7, has brought new ideas to the team. Hong Kong are rebuilding after the resignations of the former coach Kwok Ka-ming and other members of the team management. Hong Kong and Instant-Dict winger Ricky Cheng Siu-chung said he was inspired by Araujo's coaching. 'He brings us new concepts in every training session,' said the 1996 Hong Kong Footballer of the Year. 'He is very experienced and we can really learn a lot from him.' Instant-Dict executive director Ken Ng, who has watched the Hong Kong team train, was also impressed. 'His training is different from the past. The players now know what high quality training is like,' said Ng, who had earlier persuaded his club's Bulgarian defender Dimitre Kalkanov to stay with the elite squad. The younger players in the squad had even asked for extra training sessions - and Araujo is pleased with their commitment. 'The players are hard-working and they pay attention during training,' said Araujo, who will turn 60 on January 20. I am glad they like my training. It is nothing complicated because soccer is a simple sport. 'Our training has actually just started though our first session was on December 19. We had a few players missing from previous sessions because they had to play for their clubs. 'Now that the local league is halted, we can train with all the players available.' Araujo's career in the SAR suffered a setback when his team lost 2-1 to amateurs Macau in a friendly last Sunday. But he was relieved when they beat the Hong Kong Under-20 side 4-0 in their second friendly on Wednesday. 'My New Year's wish is to improve Hong Kong's soccer standards,' Araujo added. The SAR side are to face Guangdong in the 20th Guangdong-Hong Kong Interport Cup, with the first-leg match on January 11 at the Hong Kong Stadium. 'I hope we can do well in the Interport Cup. We don't know our actual strength until we play games of high standard,' said Cheng, a former Costa Rican youth international. 'We now have a new squad and a new coach. Hopefully, the public will go to the game to support us.' Guangdong have named an 18-man squad which will be led by ex-Chinese international Guo Yijun. SQUAD Guangdong: Peng Weiguo, Peng Changying, Peng Jinbo, Hu Zhijun, Tan Ende, Huang Haibin, Ma Zhuojun, Lu Jianjun (all Guangzhou Apollo); Chi Minghua, Li Chaoyang, Yao Debiao, Xie Yuxin, Chen Wenkui, Ou Chuliang, Ling Xiaojun, Qiu Zhihua, Zhang Bing (all Guangdong Hongyuan); Jiang Hong (Shenzhen). Coaches: Guo Yijun, Mai Chao.
