Kitchee plan assault on title

Fresh from their recent penalty shoot-out victory over Italian Serie A champions Juventus, Kitchee have announced an ambitious plan to claim the Hong Kong First Division championship next season.

Kitchee chief executive Ken Ng Kin is confident his team will produce a strong challenge to all-conquering Sun Hei in the new season, which starts in September.

'We were unhappy that we were unable to win any major trophies last season. This was not in line with our investment and the talent we have on the team. We came up a bit short against the other teams. We are confident we can do a lot better next season,' said Ng, who revealed his team's budget would remain at about $4 million.

Kitchee have recruited a new foreign coach in former Golden defender Dejan Antonic, who brings a wealth of experience to the team as an ex-Yugoslav youth international, who helped his country lift the 1987 World Youth Cup.

Antonic last played in Hong Kong for champions Sun Hei two years ago before plying his trade in the fledging Indonesian semi-professional league last season.

A former Instant-Dict star, the 37-year-old Yugoslav will lead a coaching staff that includes player-coach Ricky Cheng Siu-chung, goalkeeper coach Chan Hing-wing and Alan Lam Hing-lun, who will head youth development.

'A lot of fans will remember Antonic as a former Instant-Dict captain. He has had 50 caps for Yugoslavia, mainly at youth and national B level and his experience will be a considerable asset to the team,' said Ng.

Kitchee have retained most of their core players from last season, while adding several new faces. Ng said fans could expect Kitchee to be a more attacking side next season, fielding three strikers up front in an effort to win new fans. Keith Gumbs, who scored a brace of goals against Juventus on June 4, will spearhead the attack with young Hong Kong international forward Chan Siu-ki and newcomer Kwok Yue-hung, who has been signed from Happy Valley.

Meanwhile, Sun Hei have been drawn against Al Ahed of Lebanon in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup. The two-leg home and away matches are expected to be held in September or October.