Top soccer stars on target to cheer city
- English champions Manchester City provide much needed relief from protests and violence to show that sport can still bring us together
Representatives of top British soccer team Manchester City could be forgiven if they felt the timing of the team’s high-profile visit to Hong Kong was not ideal. The city has been the scene of mass protests and violent clashes. There were fears the big match between City and local club Kitchee on Wednesday would also experience trouble. Thankfully, such fears proved unfounded. There was a good atmosphere at the game, watched by a crowd of more than 20,000 at Hong Kong Stadium. It is reassuring that the city can, at a time of crisis, still host a major sporting event.
Manchester City, arguably the world’s best team, had been accused of not paying sufficient respect to their fans when performing on the mainland before arriving in Hong Kong. This allegation was strenuously denied by their manager, Pep Guardiola.
Certainly, they were keen to make a good impression here. The English Premier League champions fielded a strong starting line-up, providing local fans with a rare glimpse of stars such as Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne. In a nice touch, the visiting players congratulated Kitchee veteran Kim Dong-jin as he made his final appearance as a player. Guardiola even presented Kim with a City shirt as he departed the pitch. The visiting team did not disappoint with their play either, strolling to a 6-1 victory despite the spirited efforts of the home side. The attendance was big for a soccer match in Hong Kong. But it was disappointing that the stadium was only half full, given the quality on view. It shows that City have a long way to go in building a fan base in Asia of the kind long enjoyed by Liverpool and Manchester United.
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Both teams were enthusiastically supported by the crowd. Given the political situation in Hong Kong, it was inevitable there would be protests. There is no place for politics in sport and it might have been hoped that the stadium would be one rare protest-free zone for the night. But at least the protests were peaceful and good natured, with songs and chants. They did not detract from the sporting action.
Hong Kong has much work to do to resolve its current problems. But sporting events like this one can still excite and inspire – and provide us with some welcome relief.
