More to football in Hong Kong than just Lionel Messi
- While fans are understandably excited about the impending arrival of the football great, the Asian Cup campaign by the Hong Kong team deserves the city’s full support
Hong Kong’s football fans are understandably excited about the impending arrival of Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the sport’s greatest player.
The Argentinian World Cup winner is due to play in an exhibition game for Inter Miami against Hong Kong on February 4.
The 40,000 tickets sold out within an hour. But fans should also be focusing on other, more important, matches the Hong Kong team faces in coming weeks.
The AFC Asian Cup finals have just begun in Qatar and they feature the region’s top players. Hong Kong will be making its first appearance since 1968. The team will need all the support it can get.
It is unfortunate the tournament coincides with Messi’s appearance in the city. Hong Kong is the lowest-ranked team among the 24 competing. It will face a challenge to secure the three points likely to be needed to make the final 16.
AFC Asian Cup: all you need to know, fixtures, groups, how to watch
The first group match is against the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, to be followed by games against Iran and Palestine.
The team can take heart from an impressive performance in last year’s Asian Games, where players are mostly under 23-years-old, with Hong Kong reaching the semi-final. Hong Kong also recorded its first win over China for 29 years in a friendly match on New Year’s Day.
Hong Kong, although part of China, is allowed to field its own team in international competitions. Fuelled by a talented contingent of “young and hungry’ players as well as several recently naturalised stars, the city’s team will be hoping to make its mark.
The achievements of the Hong Kong team deserve more attention and support. Hopefully, they can raise interest in the domestic game, driving more funding, sponsorship and fans for local teams.
Head coach Jorn Andersen has called for changes to the infrastructure of the local game, with more quality football training for children and greater opportunities for young players to represent teams in the city’s Premier League.
The Hong Kong team’s exploits should act as a catalyst for boosting the sport.
Midfielder Jesse Yu Joy-yin said: “We want to bring everyone together to get behind Hong Kong.” Fans should, while welcoming Messi, provide full support for the city’s Asian Cup campaign.
