THE Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) have left themselves open to criticism once more by announcing that the annual Hong Kong Footballers' Awards - one of the territory's most established sporting awards - have been scrapped this season.
The HKFA said the awards, which would have entered their 17th year, had been cancelled because of lack of sponsorship.
A HKFA spokesman said the sponsors of this season's league, Sun Hung Kai, had not tied up an agreement to sponsor the footballers' awards, which are usually divided into four categories: the best youth player, the best foreign player, the top goal-scorer and the blue riband Hong Kong Footballer of the Year.
Eastern striker Dale Tempest, last season's top scorer, said it was ridiculous not to have a footballing award.
''Every professional league in the world has this award and to not have one is ridiculous,'' said Tempest, who will finish the season as top scorer again. He currently has 21 goals to his credit.
''If it is lack of sponsorship, it seems ridiculous.
