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SCMP Reporter

CITIZEN

President: Pui Kwan-kay

Coach: Liu Chun-fai

Budget: $3.5 million

Last season's results: Eighth in the league

Squad: Goalkeepers: 16-Tse Tak-him, 17-Ho Kwok-chuen. Defenders: 2-Ronan Falcao, 3-Fung Kai-hong, 4-Shum Kwok-fai, 5-Chan Man-chun, 7-Festus Baise, 13-Chan Ming-kong, 15-Moses Mensah, 20-Yaw Shingpeng. Midfielders: 6-Chen Zhizhou, 8-Xu Deshuai, 12-Ma Ka-ki, 14-Ju Yingzhi, 21-Ho Ka-kin, 18-Anthony Nyatepe. Forwards: 9-Guo Feng, 10-Alexandro Santos, 11-Wang Xuanhong, 30-Marcio F. da Silva

Major summer signings: Da Silva, Santos, Falcao, Guo Feng, Wang Xuanhong

Released: Leung Chun-pong, Chao Pengfei, Wang Zhengchuang, Delphin Tshibanda Tshibangu, Cheung King-wah, Jorge Rodrigues

Verdict: With three new Brazilian signings, Citizen show they mean business this season.   But to make any impact, they're going to have to find quality local players, and releasing one of their best youngsters,  Leung Chun-pong, to  Happy Valley was definitely not a good idea. Another difficult season ahead.

CONVOY SUN HEI

President: Chow Man-leung

Head coach: Khoo Luam Kuen

Coaches: Chan Fat-chi, Leslie Santos, Yan Lik-kin

Budget: HK$6-8 million

Last season's results: Third in the league; runners-up in the Senior Shield

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1-Wei Zhao, 21-Chan Ka-ki, 17-Cheung King-wah. Defenders: 2-Tsang Siu-wing, 3-Chung Kin-hei, 33-Cristiano Cordeiro, 23-Joao Miguel, 12-Tse Man-wing, 15-Lee Wai-lun. Midfielders: 6-Lau Chi-keung, 7-Chu Siu-kei, 25-Lam Wan-kit, 16-Lai Kai-cheuk, 10-Chan Yiu-lun, 14-Lo Chi-kwan. Forwards: 9-Fabio de Souza, 22-Giovane da Silva, 18-Chan Ho-man, 8-Mauricio Pizzi

Major summer signings: Mauricio Pizzi, Fabio de Souza

Released: Lee Kin-wo, Fladimir Freitas, Domingos Chan, Barnes Ezeh, Victor Inegbenoise, Antonio Davila, Xie Wei

Verdict: Last season was a huge disappointment considering their sweep of the four major trophies  in the 2004-05 season.  They have kept faith with the majority of their local players, with only veteran Lee Kin-wo leaving to join newly promoted Workable as player/coach and 36-year-old Macanese goalkeeper Domingos Chan deciding to call it a day. However, Cristiano Cordeiro is still there and despite his age, the 33-year-old Brazilian remains the most reliable centre half. The signing of three new Brazilians will strengthen their attack.  Sun Hei are still a force to be reckoned with and one of the main contenders for honours.

EASTERN

President: Lam Kin-ming

Team manager: Peter Leung Shou-chi

Coach: Casemiro Mior

Budget: $7 million

Last season's result: 10th in the Second Division

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1-Chung Ho-yin 17-Luciano da Silva, 22-Cheng Ho-man, 23-Hisanori Takada. Defenders: 2- Marcio D. da Silva, 3-Wong Yiu-fu, 5-Wong Kwok-bun, 6-Pau Ka-yiu, 13-Lo Chun-kit, 19-Evanor Fantin, 21-Tong Kin-man, Edemar Picoli. Midfielders: 7-Odair Hellmann, 8-Lee Sze-ming, 10-Fladimir Freitas, 16-Shum Kwok-pui, 20-Yip Tsz-chun. Forwards: 9-Fabio Alcantara, 18-Leung Chi-kui, 26-Leung Tsz-chun, 28-Yu Ho-pong.

Verdict: Rome was not built in a day, but Eastern are certainly trying. One of Hong Kong's strongest teams in 1990s - they won the league three times in a row from 1992-95 - Eastern should be in the Third Division this season. But the FA has handed them a lifeline, and they are back in the top flight.  They've only had two months to put a competitive team together, but with a sizeable budget, a shrewd football mind in coach Casemiro Mior and wily Peter Leung managing the side, Eastern could prove to be the surprise package.

HAPPY VALLEY

Team convener: Koon Wing-yee

Team manager: Chan Hung-ping

Coaches: Lo Kai-wah, Tam Ah-fook

Budget: $8 million.

Last season's results: Sixth in the league; FA Cup finalists; League Cup finalists

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1-Fan Chun-yip, 22-Leung Cheuk-cheung. Defenders: 6-Denisson de Souza, 18-Cheung Tsz-kin, Marcos Antonio, 20-Poon Yiu-cheuk, 26-Li Ming. Midfielders: 7-Law Chun-pong, 8-Cheung Sai-ho, 12-Vandre Monteiro, 16-Leung Chun-pong, 23-So Yiu-man, 24-Poon Man-tik, 15-Diego Mendonca. Forwards: 19-Ma Shuai, 14-Chao Pengfei, 13-Shum Kwok-keung

Major summer signings: Ma Shuai, Leung Chun-pong, Leung Tsz-chun, Cheung Tsz-kin

Released: Hamilton Junior, Fabio Alcantara, Evanor Fantin, Sui Weijie, Lee Wai-man, Shum Kwok-fai, Lee Sze-ming, Feng Jizhi

Verdict: Happy Valley were defending league champions last season, but failed to live up to expectations.  One of the reasons for their mediocre season was an ageing team.  As a result, a couple of the older players, such as captain Lee Wai-man, were released. Valley have recruited a number of younger players, including Leung Chun-pong, last season's Young Footballer of the Year, from Citizen. Historically one of the stronger teams in Hong Kong, Valley can never be ruled out of  contention.

KITCHEE

President: Ken Ng Kin

Coach: Dejan Antonic

Assistant coach: Ricky Cheng Siu-chung

Budget: $6 million

Last season's results: Second in the league; League Cup champions; FA Cup semi-finalists

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1-Wang Zhenpeng, 17-Li Jian, 22- Chi-chiu Goldbert. Defenders: 3- Lin Junsheng, 5-Milija Zizic, 6-Luk Koon-pong, 13-Cheung Kin-fung, 20-Li Hang-wui, 21- Ivan Jevic, 23-Leung Chi-wing. Midfielders: 8- Tam Siu-wai, 12-Lo Kwan-yee, 14-Liu Quankun, 10-Anderson da Silva, 16- Gao Wen, 24-Ngan Lok-fung, 25-Szeto Man-chun, 26-Lo Chi-hing, 27 Louis Movguele Ayock, 28- Ip Chun-long, 29-Wong Sai-hung. Forwards: 30-Jaimes McKee, 9-Julius Akosah, 18-Chan Siu-ki, 19- Cheng Lai-hin, 7-Goran Stankovski.

Major summer signings: Stankovski, Movguele Ayock, Lo Kwan-yee

Released: Darko Rakocevic, Keith Gumbs, Kwok Yue-hung

Verdict: The only team other than South China to win a title last season, Kitchee will be a threat in every competition this season.  Much is expected of  newcomer Lo Kwan-yee after the 22-year-old Hong Kong international made an huge impression when playing with the China national team against the World Stars team in the Re-unification Cup in July.

LANWA REDBULL

Coach: Piao Junjie

Budget: $8 million

Last season's results: Fifth in the league

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1- Liu Lei, 17-Shi Meng, 24- Guo Rui. Defenders: 2-Nicolas Nkewoun, 3-Zhang Yu, 6-Liu Chong, 14-Li Zhongjun, 15-An Ran, 19-Yu Bo, 22-Wang Fengqing, 26-Wang Yunpeng, 27-Zhang Sheng, 30-Wang Gang. Midfielders: 5-Geng Xin, 7-Yang Baoming, 8-Wen Kai, 9-Zhu Xuyu, 12-Yin Liangyi, 16-Fan Qi, 18-Qi Chongxi, 23-Fan Peng, 28-Wang Jun, 29-Li Long. Forwards: 10-Lin Zhong, 11-Albert Njewel, 20-Ye Nan, 25-Zheng Chen.

Major summer signings: Njewel, Nkewoun

Released: Aldo Villalba Torres

Verdict: Not happy with last season's results, Dongguan-based Lanwa have upped the ante by boosting their budget by $2 million.   They have secured two foreign players, including Njewel, who played for China Super League side Dalian Shide last season. Three more are going to join the club soon, according to the team management. Always hard to beat on their home ground, a three-hour journey from Hong Kong, Lanwa must perform better when they are on the road.

RANGERS

Director: Philip Lee Fai-lap.

Coaches: Li Ping-hung

Budget: $3.5 million

Last season's results: Fourth in the league; FA Cup semi-finalists

Squad: Goalkeepers: 1-Xiao Guoji , 19-Leung Hing-kit, 31-Cheung Wai-hong. Defenders: 2-Lai Ka-fai, 8-Li Zifei, 28-Yu Yang, 9-Fung Chun-ting, 14-Chan Siu-yuen, 18-Tse Tin-yau, 26-Fung Ka-ki, 28- Yu Yang, 30-Bishop Owusu. Midfielders: 4-Wisdom Agbo, 5-Lam Ka-wai, 12-Chan Kin-on, 20-Yeung Chi-lun, 21-Anane Yaw, 22-Lai Yiu-cheong, 23-Liang Zicheng, 6-Pun Wing-on. Forwards: 10-Yan Tsz-him, 11-Godfred Karikari, 16-Chak Ting-fung, 17-To Hon-to, 7-Iu Wai, 6-Ye Jia, 32-Andrews Pomeyie.

Major summer signings: Bishop Owusu, Andrews Pomeyie, Li Zifei

Released: Yip Chi-ho, Wong Chin-hung, Fan Weijun, Louis Movguele Ayock, Ghislain Bell Bell

Verdict: After a woeful season which saw the departure of financier Carson Yeung Ka-sing (now the biggest individual shareholder of English Premier League side Birmingham) and a number of key players, the club have decided to field a young side, including  Iu Wai and Tse Tin-yau, both 16.   Rangers have also secured two players from Ghana and a mainlander, Li Zifei, from Shanghai. Although they are certainly not in the running for the league title, Rangers should be a competitive side.

SOUTH CHINA

Team convener: Steven Lo Kit-shing

Head coach: Jose Luis

Budget: $15 million

Last season's results: League champions; Senior Shield champions; FA Cup champions; League Cup semi-finalists

Squad: Goalkeepers: 23-Zhang Chunhui, 16-Zhang Jiangzhong. Defenders: 2-Lee Chi-ho, 3-Sidrailson, 4-Deng Jinghuang, 6-Wong Chin-hung, , 15-Chan Wai-ho, 21-Man Pei-tak, 22-Lai Man-fei, 25-Cristiano Pereira. Midfielders: 5-Bai He, 8-Yeung Ching-kwong, 11- Li Haiqiang, 13-Chan Chi-hong, 20-Yip Chi-ho. Forwards: 18-Kwok Kin-pong, 19-Cheng Siu-wai, 30-Detinho, 39-Fan Weijun, 17-Du Ping, 9-Flavio Souza.

Major summer signings: Souza, Sidrailson, Yip Chi-ho, Wong Chin-hung

Released: Tales Schutz, Wong Chun-yue, Au Wai-lun, Liang Zicheng (on loan to Rangers)

Verdict: Hong Kong's best supported club, South China had an unbelievable revival, capturing three titles last season when they were allowed to remain in the top flight only after a special FA resolution that voided their relegation the season before.   The  acrimonious departure of coach Casemiro Mior in the summer, however, could have an impact.    Also the departure of marksman Tales Schutz, who netted 23 times last season, leaves a void up front. Nonetheless,  South China  remain the team to beat.

WOFOO TAI PO

Team Manager: Chan Chi-chiu

Secretary: Chan Ping

Coach: Tim Bredbury

Budget: $4 million

Last season's results: Seventh in the league

Squad: Goalkeepers: 33-Pang Chi-kin, 1-Lee Hon-ho. Defenders: 3-Chan Sze-wing, 16-Leung Kam-fai, 5-Leung Kam-fai, 6-Joel Bertoti Padilha, 12-Chiu Chun-kit, 14-Kwok Wing-sun, 20-Jim Kwok-wai, 21-Chan Yuk-chi. Midfielders: 4-Edgar Junior, 7-Lee Hong-lim, 8-So Hong-shing, 9- Lee Wai-lim, 10-Lui Chi-hing, 17-So Loi-keung, 18-Chan Hing-kwong, 19-Hon Kwok-chun, 22-Sin Shing-chun. Forwards: 11-Sze Win-wai, 13-Li Shu-san, 15-Christian Annan.

Major summer signings: None

Verdict: Tai Po confounded their critics last season simply by surviving in the top flight.  Their two Brazilian players - Bertoti Padilha and Junior - have been the mainstays of the team, superbly supported by their hardworking colleagues.  New coach Tim Bredbury will have to marshal that never-say-die team spirit if Tai Po are to improve on last season's showing.

WORKABLE

Chairman: Evan Lam Hok-ling

Team manager: Chan Hiu-ming

Coach: Lee Kin-wo

Budget: $4 million

Last season's results: Runners-up in the Second Division

Squad: Goalkeepers: 17-Yaap Hung-fai, 24-Tung Ho-yin, 22-Zhong Jie. Defenders: 3-Beto Fronza, 4-Wilson Santos Cruz, 13-Chung Kin-keung, 14-So Wai-chuen, 20-Kan Tsz-yeung. Midfielders: 6-Lau Nim-yat, 7-Wong Chun-yue, 8-Yuen Kin-man, 10-Au Yeung Yiu-chung, 11-Lee Kin-wo, 15-Chan Man-fai, 23-Yang Xu. Forwards: 9-Roos Waressi, 21-Tsang Kam-to, 27-Kelvin Lam Wing-chung

Verdict: Like other newly formed sides, Workable face the  problem of recruiting quality local players as most of them are under contract with the big clubs. The newly promoted side have, therefore, snapped up youngsters from the now-defunct Hong Kong 08.  Lee Kin-wo is making his debut as a club coach after a brief stint with the Hong Kong team at a disappointing East Asian Championship qualifying campaign  during the summer. And with a small squad, the 39-year-old veteran has had to register himself as a player. Despite the signing of three Brazilians, Workable - known as Shek Kip Mei last season - are likely to struggle.



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