The alleged match-fixing case of local soccer club Tuen Mun Progoal has put the First Division League in the spotlight, ironically where it needs to be.
Local soccer was popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. But fans gradually turned to more exciting games overseas and the local game attracted less interest.
More recently Hong Kong soccer lovers poured capital into clubs to try to revitalise the game. The most renowned team is South China. Steven Lo Kit-shing took charge of the team in 2006. His wife, novelist Canny Leung Chi-Shan, works as the marketing manager and has helped to re-package the veteran club into a hip and trendy one.
Another major change came when team Tin Shui Wai Pegasus was formed last year. It attracted many young soccer fans. The team did several school tours, and a cheerleading team was formed by secondary school students. On March 31, the match-fixing scandal broke and drew interest back to the local game.
Progoal captain Cheung Tin-tak wrote in his blog the following day - April Fool's Day - that his team let in four goals in the last seven minutes. He accused the mainland teammates of playing for money and he quit the team. The case is now under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The allegations may be scandalous but they have drawn people back to the local game. 'I doubt many people heard about Progoal before the scandal broke,' said Cheung Wing-sum, a spectator at the game between Progoal and Mutual at Mong Kok Stadium last Friday. Progoal won 2-1 in the Coolpoint Ventilation League match, which is also the First Division League.
