We'll rise from the dead, vows Lam

Hong Kong Football Association secretary Martin Lam, frustrated by the record low turnouts for local matches and the SAR's disappointing performance at the World Cup qualifiers, said defiantly: 'Hong Kong soccer is not finished yet.'

Six months since taking over as FA secretary, Lam has seen crowd attendance dwindle to embarrassing figures. On Thursday night, only 1,681 spectators turned up to watch Happy Valley defeat Sun Hei 1-0 and Instant-Dict edge South China 1-0 in the league championship phase at spacious Hong Kong Stadium.

A season ago, it would not be uncommon to see at least 5,000 spectators past through the turnstiles when the top local clubs played.

But despite the alarming figures, Lam said there was still light at the end of the tunnel and Hong Kong still had a future. 'We have to sit down with everybody involved and discuss what we are going to do for next season. I'm frustrated by it all, too. But I am looking forward to next season because there are still several positive signs,' said Lam.

'If we do improve soccer here, we would have to improve it internally and re-package the whole thing. We have to identify the programmes and see the areas that need to be amended.

'Soccer here is not dead yet - not totally. Soccer is still the most popular sport in the region if not the world and we still have a future.'

Lam said there were positive signs that Hong Kong football could get back on its feet. He cited the Government's supplementary funding of $1.4 million to help the local team train for the World Cup plus the Government's blessing to further develop the sport here.