South China striker Martin Jancula could make his long-awaited return to the Hong Kong First Division against Sun Hei in today's top-of-the-table clash at Hong Kong Stadium.
The 28-year-old Slovakian, who was one of the best signings of last season when he played for now-defunct Instant-Dict, is struggling to adapt despite familiar surroundings with the climate his biggest worry. 'It's been hard for me because I came from a cold climate in Slovakia where the temperature was about five degrees. There's now a 20-degree change because Hong Kong is about 25 degrees,' said Jancula, who scored 10 goals in three months for Instant-Dict last season.
So hard has it been for Jancula to acclimatise to the weather and to the different time zones, the towering striker, who arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday, has been finding it hard to get out of bed.
Jancula finally made it to Hong Kong after South China took more than two months to sign him from Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava, who finished runners-up in the Slovakian First Division last season. South China coach Casemiro Mior said there was no guarantee the Slovakian would start today, saying it will hinge on a fitness test this morning.
'We will play it by ear and see how it happens. Jancula is not feeling the best and his form is definitely off because of the travel. But things can change tomorrow and he might well start the game,' said Mior.
South China team director Peter Leung Shou-chi was convinced Jancula would start, saying today's crunch match was too important for him to miss. 'South China must have a good result in the first round of the league and will have a very important match to come at the end of the month in the Asian Cup-Winners' Cup against [J-League side] Shimizu S-Pulse,' said Leung.
