HONGKONG'S World Cup hopes suffered a body blow yesterday when South China's remaining players pulled out of the squad. Club captain Chan Ping-on has a broken arm and midfielder Shum Kwok-pui has pulled stomach muscles. The third to withdraw yesterday, midfielder Chiu Chung-man, said he wished to devote his time to South China's domestic campaign - the same reason cited by teammates Leslie Santos and Chu Yue-tai, who pulled out last month. With the first leg of the Asian Group D matches in Beirut, Lebanon, less than five weeks away, Hongkong will be missing some of their best players. ''We are now down to 17 players from an original list of 22 and this is certainly not good news for us,'' said Hongkong coach Wong Man-wai, whose side take on Lebanon, India, South Korea and Bahrain from May 7-15. Wong, who steps down as national coach after the territory play their ''return'' World Cup legs in Seoul from June 5-13, said the Hongkong Football Association have already been informed of the withdrawals of Santos, Chu and Shum. ''Some of our best players are not available and this will make it even more difficult for us to qualify for the next round,'' he said. ''We have to play South Korea and that alone will be a very tough match. But even India and Lebanon may pose problems for us. We know very little about them but we can only assume that their standard is not much off from ours.'' The withdrawal of experienced campaigner Chan was a bitter blow. Sweeper Chan fractured his left arm in the second half of South China's Viceroy Cup semi-final against Instant-Dict which South China won in a 4-1 penalty shoot-out on Tuesday. Last season's Hongkong Footballer of Year is expected to be out for at least amonth. Wong is likely to replace Chan by putting either Kitchee's Yau Kin-wai or Eastern's Chiu Chun-ming in the sweeper's position. ''I think our World Cup hopes have been considerably dampened now. Our preparations haven't been going so well and it will be difficult for Hongkong to do anything at the World Cup. ''But we have to strive hard to achieve the results we want,'' said Chan, one of the most experienced Hongkong internationals. South China play Eastern in Sunday's Viceroy Cup final and, of the five who dropped out of the territory's squad, only the injured duo of Shum and Chan have been ruled out of the game. The Caroliners have also been hit by an injury to defender Pang Kam-chuen who dislocated his right shoulder in training. The HKFA said the trips to Lebanon and Seoul, estimated at $680,000, will be paid for by the association and not team managers as first suggested. Tickets for Sunday's final will be sold at various outlets throughout the territory, but not at the Hongkong Stadium. The HKFA said tickets would be sold at the South China Athletic Association, the Jade Cinema in Causeway Bay and the Mandarin Cinema in Mongkok today, tomorrow and on Sunday. Tickets can also be obtained from the Golden Chinese Restaurant next to Southorn Stadium and the Golden Fast Food Restaurant on the basement of Star House and Sunflower Travel Services branches in Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Mongkok and Tsuen Wan. HONGKONG SQUAD Goalkeepers: Chan Sau-yin (Instant-Dict), Chung Ho-yin (Kitchee), Yam Wai-hung (Kui Tan). Defenders: Chan Chi-keung, Cheung Kam-wa, Chiu Chun-ming, Lo Kai-wah, Yeung Kin-keung, Lee Wai-man (all Eastern), Yau Kin-wai (Kitchee), Wong Wai-tak (Sing Tao). Midfielders: Chan Chi-kwong (Instant-Dict), Wu Yiu-kwok (Ernest Borel), Tam Siu-wai, Lee Kin-wo (both Eastern). Forwards: Au Wai-lun, Wong Chi-keung (both Ernest Borel).
