Kenneth Kwok joined Tai Po in the summer.
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3036606/quick-exit-coach-kenneth-kwok-leaves-football-champions-tai-po Hong Kong
Quick exit: Coach Kenneth Kwok leaves football champions Tai Po after just two months in charge
- Kwok says he cannot take charge of his side’s AFC Champions League campaign while taking his rescheduled pro licence course at the same time
- Club accepts Kwok’s resignation and joint coach Fung Hoi-man will assume his duties
Kenneth Kwok is leaving champions Tai Po after just two months. Photos: May Tse
Coach Kenneth Kwok Ka-lok has made a shock exit from Wofoo Tai Po after just two months in charge of the BOCHK Hong Kong Premier champions.
In a brief club statement on Wednesday, Kwok, who joined the district team this summer, said he could not stay in charge of his side’s AFC Champions League campaign while attending an AFC pro licence course at the same time.
“The AFC extended the course period because there’s been a change in the instructor and the new date will clash with Tai Po’s Champions League qualifiers,” said Kwok. “For me, the priority has always been to complete the pro licence.”
Tai Po said they had accepted Kwok’s resignation and announced that Fung Hoi-man, the joint head coach with Kwok, will assume all duties.
Tai Po are lying sixth in the table with six points after they won their first match of the season by defeating Best Union Yuen Long 3-1 over the weekend. Yuen Long were coached by Kwok last season.
However, Tai Po’s 5-3 defeat by R&F in the Sampling Cup group stage last month caused some consternation among fans, who were angry that the side had conceded two late goals.
Kwok has been hailed as one of the most promising local coaches in recent years, steering Hong Kong to two victories in the annual Interport Cup against rivals Guangzhou in the past two years. He was also Hong Kong head coach at last year’s Asian Games in Jakarta.
Kenneth Kwok has been touted as a future Hong Kong national coach.
As Hong Kong champions, Tai Po will be required to start their regional top-tier club competition in preliminary round two, scheduled in late January.
Fans expressed disappointment that Kwok was leaving Tai Po. They also hope Kwok will coach the Hong Kong representative team in future.
Tai Po star striker Sandro was also let down by Kwok’s decision. “Your departure made me sad,” said the Hong Kong international. “We have learned a lot from you and I wish you happiness. Surely one day we will work together again.”
Meanwhile, Hong Kong drew 1-1 with North Korea in the AFC under-19 championship qualifiers in Jakarta. Hong Kong will play two more games – against Indonesia and East Timor.