Massive change needs to take place if Hong Kong are to establish a credible presence on the international stage, Football Association chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak admitted after watching Saudi Arabia thrash his side 5-0 in their World Cup qualifier last night.
Hong Kong had little hope of making it into the next round in their Asian zone second-round, second-leg match after a 3-0 defeat in the away leg, and the 1,200 spectators at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground duly witnessed another predictable demolition job by the Asian heavyweights.
The latest Fifa rankings have seen Hong Kong drop to 154 in the world, just two places above their record low of 156 in 2008.
'The Hong Kong team are facing a difficult time and we have to pin our hopes on the new team manager under the government's Phoenix Project,' said Football Association chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak of the wide-ranging plan to revamp the game in the city. 'But there is no quick fix even with the arrival of the new team manager and it will be a long process to rebuild the team.'
After Hong Kong conceded the opener on 34 minutes, midfielder Leung Chun-pong was red-carded for a bad tackle in the 68th minute and three minutes later Hong Kong conceded a second goal through a penalty, heralding the opening of the floodgates.
