SOUTH China's exciting midfield prospect, Chiu Chung-man, wins his first World Cup call-up for Hongkong today against Lebanon in the Olympic Stadium in Seoul.
The 23-year-old playmaker, who has emerged from the shadow of South China's number one midfielder, Leslie Santos, this season, steps into the attacking midfield role vacated by Eastern's Tam Siu-wai, who has an ankle injury.
And it caps an outstanding season for Chiu, who has been on South China's books for five years but who only secured a first-team place early in the current campaign.
Said Chiu: ''I played as a substitute in the last two matches in Lebanon - against India and South Korea - but this will be my first appearance in the starting line-up.
''I am not nervous, just confident. I have been asked to get forward a lot from midfield and that suits my game.'' With the territory's hopes of progressing from the Asia Group D qualifying round for the 1994 World Cup now over, Hongkong coach Chan Hung-ping feels the time is right to give some younger players a taste of international action.
Speaking of Chiu, the coach said: ''He has very good technique, is a good passer of the ball and is quite aggressive. I want him to be our key man in midfield.'' Coach Chan was forced to rule out five of his 22-strong squad because of injuries - midfielders Tam Sui-wai (ankle) and Chan Chi-kwong (head wound), right-backs Lo Kai-wah (hamstring) and Yau Kin-wai (hamstring) and third-string 'keeper Tong Tak-kin (ankle).
Chiu's South China teammate, Shum Kwok-pui, comes in for Lo at right-back. Striker Au Wai-lun, who injured his right ankle in scoring Hongkong's only goal in the 4-1 defeat by Korea last Saturday, has a fitness test this morning.