Fresh from their recent penalty shoot-out victory over Italian Serie A champions Juventus, Kitchee have announced an ambitious plan to claim the Hong Kong First Division championship next season.
Kitchee chief executive Ken Ng Kin is confident his team will produce a strong challenge to all-conquering Sun Hei in the new season, which starts in September.
'We were unhappy that we were unable to win any major trophies last season. This was not in line with our investment and the talent we have on the team. We came up a bit short against the other teams. We are confident we can do a lot better next season,' said Ng, who revealed his team's budget would remain at about $4 million.
Kitchee have recruited a new foreign coach in former Golden defender Dejan Antonic, who brings a wealth of experience to the team as an ex-Yugoslav youth international, who helped his country lift the 1987 World Youth Cup.
Antonic last played in Hong Kong for champions Sun Hei two years ago before plying his trade in the fledging Indonesian semi-professional league last season.
A former Instant-Dict star, the 37-year-old Yugoslav will lead a coaching staff that includes player-coach Ricky Cheng Siu-chung, goalkeeper coach Chan Hing-wing and Alan Lam Hing-lun, who will head youth development.