THE chairman of the Hongkong FA, Victor Hui, is to hold talks with the national team management in a bid to patch together Hongkong's World Cup squad, writes Jeremy Walker. Speaking after yesterday's Viceroy Cup final, Hui said he was confident the squad would be brought up to full strength in time for the build-up to qualifying matches in Lebanon in May and South Korea in June. The 22-strong squad is now down to 17, including three goalkeepers, after the withdrawal of South China's five-strong contingent. South China boss Steven Lo Kit-sing has also resigned as an assistant manager and national coach Wong Man-wai, the South China team manager, is understood to be on the point of resigning, too. This would leave Wong's assistant, Eastern coach Chan Hung-ping, in charge of the World Cup squad. Hui, who is also a vice-chairman of the South China Athletic Association, said: ''It is very important for Hongkong to do well in the World Cup qualifying games so we must have our strongest possible team. ''But some of the players are injured or tired at the end of the season and feel they cannot put in the time for training. ''It always seems to happen with the World Cup so I am going to have talks with the team managers. I am sure the problems can be resolved.'' South China official Bruce Mok said last week that Lo had pulled out because the club were not happy with the strong Eastern influence in the national set-up. Of the five South China players who have withdrawn, only one of them - skipper and sweeper Chan Ping-on, did not play in yesterday's Viceroy Cup final against Eastern. The other four, Shum Kwok-pui, Chiu Chung-man, Leslie Santos and Chu Yue-tai, all played a part, Santos and Chu as substitutes. Eastern provide eight players in the squad and the team manager, Lam Kin-ming.
