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SCMP Reporter

SANTOS. The name smacks of Brazilian brilliance, of skill in abundance, a flair for doing the unexpected.

   It is, of course, the name of the side for whom the legendary Pele played, but it is also the name of arguably the most talented footballer Hong Kong has ever produced.

 Alas, it is also a name full of irony for Hong Kong's biggest club.

 While the red-and-white shirted players of South China were recording one of their biggest results in the club's proud history - a stunning 4-2 victory over Brazil's world champion club side, Sao Paolo - Leslie Santos, as he has become accustomed lately, was just another face in the crowd.

 He sat out the game through injury and, despite their famous win, there is no doubt South China missed him, as they have missed him over two troubled seasons for a former all-conquering side.

 Santos on his day is a delight to watch; despite his seeming physical frailty - he stands 1.64 metres tall and weighs in at just 57 kilograms - he has a rare capacity for dominating matches, skipping through tackles, spraying passes and invariably capping his performance with a swerving free kick or spectacular finish.

   The problem is that his day may have come and gone.

   At the age of 26, Santos should be on top of his game, but instead the quietly spoken athlete is a troubled young man.

 Just over a year ago, Santos stood on the verge of a remarkable achievement.

   Already the linchpin of South China's powerful side, an automatic selection for the national team and fresh from a starring role in Hong Kong's albeit short-lived World Indoor Championships challenge, he was being lined up by Dutch coach Vic Hermans for a move to Belgium and professional football there.

 The only Hong Kong player ever to have made the move to play in Europe was Cheung Chi-doy, who joined English club Blackpool in the 1960s.

 Former national coach Kwok Ka-ming had given Santos his blessing, and it seemed he was playing his last season in South China colours.

   Then came the sort of incident that has football managers groping in vain for the cliches.

 South China took on the enthusiastic but hopelessly outclassed amateurs of British Forces in a league match.

  On their way to a 7-0 victory, they decided to give substitute Santos (he was resting) a gentle run out.

   He was on the field for one minute in which he did not touch the ball, did not make contact with anyone - but still managed to jeopardise his career.

 ''I didn't have a good warm up, I didn't even touch the ball,'' Santos says. ''After one minute I twisted my knee and I was off. There was only a little bit of pain. I tried to rest for two weeks but it was still painful.''  It was then that Santos learned he had seriously damaged his cruciate ligaments.

   He now knows the injury is similar to the one suffered by England's Paul Gascoigne.

 Santos underwent an operation, gradually eased his way back into the South China side, and then suffered a crunching tackle in a game against Sing Tao. This time he knew it was serious.

 ''The first injury I thought was nothing, I thought I could get better,'' he says.

  ''But now, with the second injury, I feel very sad because after this operation my leg is still in pain. I hope I can play football again but I think I will have to see a third doctor.

 ''Perhaps Hong Kong doctors are not so good - and no one has told me how to train to recover. I have to do something because I still have pain in my knee. Before, I could jog a little but now I can't.

 ''Maybe I am going to have to talk to my manager and maybe go to Europe, to Holland or somewhere for another operation.

 ''I hope I can get back as soon as I can - I hope I can be playing again in six months. I am lucky the manager here [Wong Man-wai] has said he still wants me to play for South China.

  ''Even though I can't play I will still sign a contract. Maybe I will rest for one more year.

 ''But I still need my leg to walk on, so if I can't play football I guess I had better not.''  He trails off, seemingly realising for the first time that he may never again be able to do what he does best.



Santos brought to his knees by horror run of injuries