https://www.scmp.com/rss/315966/feed South China FC, founded in 1904, are the most successful football team in Hong Kong, having won the league title 40 times. They are based at Hong Kong Stadium. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara South China suffered a blow in their bid for a return to the big time on Sunday, while players and supporters largely backed the decision for the Hong Kong lower-league show to go on after last week’s tragic fire in Tai Po. Local Premier League matches were among a host of elite sport cancelled over the weekend, but the Football Association of Hong Kong, China decided to proceed with the rest of their fixtures. About 200 fans turned up to watch Sham Shui Po, FA Cup finalists 18 months ago, beat... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334683/sham-shui-po-edge-south-china-hong-kong-division-1-players-fans-back-call-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334683/sham-shui-po-edge-south-china-hong-kong-division-1-players-fans-back-call-play?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:24 +0000 Hong Kong’s two draws against China in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers remain lodged in the memories of their fans, with the then head coach Kim Pan-gon’s “die for Hong Kong” rallying cry becoming a catchphrase. Just as deeply involved as analysis coach, designing the master plan for the players to commit everything to, was Anilton da Conceicao – a native of Brazil but, 25 years after arriving in the city, a stalwart of Hong Kong football. There are unsung heroes behind every success, and former... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3195139/brazil-bound-aniltons-place-hong-kong-football-secure-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3195139/brazil-bound-aniltons-place-hong-kong-football-secure-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Oct 2022 00:30:08 +0000 The reopening of South China Stadium could pave the way for the local football giants to return to the top-tier Premier League – but there is no time line yet for a move up from the Hong Kong First Division. A multimillion redevelopment project to renovate the stadium, which was built on Caroline Road in 1950, was launched in 2012. With HK$170 million in financial support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the project was finally completed this year after a total expenditure close... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3157545/reopening-renovated-south-china-stadium-paves-way-return-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3157545/reopening-renovated-south-china-stadium-paves-way-return-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:18:15 +0000 Former China national football team captain and Grimsby Town cult hero Zhang Enhua died on Thursday, aged 48, according to reports in Chinese media. State news agency Xinhua cited a source close to his family confirming the news, which had quickly spread throughout Chinese social media platforms on Thursday. The Chinese Football Asscociation wrote a tribute on China’s Twitter-like Weibo, listing the former footballer’s career achievements, including seven league titles with his hometown side... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3131726/former-china-captain-and-grimsby-town-hero-zhang-enhua-dies-aged-48?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3131726/former-china-captain-and-grimsby-town-hero-zhang-enhua-dies-aged-48?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:42:51 +0000 Former Hong Kong international Manoel dos Santos has been confirmed Covid-19 positive in his home in Brazil after leaving the city in 2019. The 40-year-old, better known as Itaparica in Hong Kong, said in a social media post that he was tested for coronavirus but had not developed any symptoms. Over 2.1 million people in South America’s biggest country have contracted the virus with a death toll at nearly 80,000. Many of his former teammates in Hong Kong sent him wishes, hoping the attacking... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3093864/coronavirus-former-hong-kong-football-international-itaparica-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3093864/coronavirus-former-hong-kong-football-international-itaparica-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:06:23 +0000 Flamboyant Hong Kong striker Chan Siu-ki had a habit of stealing the limelight, on and off the field. The gifted striker rose to the challenge as a steady stream of foreign players came and went, but he also earned a reputation as a “bad boy”. The 34-year-old Chan, Hong Kong’s leading scorer with 37 goals in 68 games, decided to retire after starting only three games and appearing 13 times as a substitute for Pegasus this season. Here are the highs – and lows – of Chan’s career. Early days Chan... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3088840/how-hong-kongs-all-time-leading-goalscorer-chan-siu-ki-made-his?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3088840/how-hong-kongs-all-time-leading-goalscorer-chan-siu-ki-made-his?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:57:30 +0000 Leslie Santos felt helpless as he surveyed the emptiness of his Chelsea FC Soccer School Hong Kong training ground in Lam Tin. Just a few months ago there were 500 kids enjoying the beautiful game but the Covid-19 pandemic has brought business to a halt. “We have about 50 coaches to teach the youngsters football skills here, more than 30 are working full-time but none of them is working now because there are no more students,” said the two-time former Hong Kong Footballer of the Year (1990 and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3080549/leslie-santos-chelsea-football-school-struggling-survive-during?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3080549/leslie-santos-chelsea-football-school-struggling-survive-during?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2020 10:00:41 +0000 Goals wins games, so goes the football adage, and The Guinness Book of World Records gives Pele the crown of being the most prolific goalscorer in history. More specifically they give the Brazilian the record for “Most career goals (football)” with 1,283 between September 7, 1956 to October 1, 1977, but there are others who can lay claim to the crown. Josef Bican is rumoured to have scored 1,468 – although he claimed it was closer to 5,000 – but only a handful more have been credited with... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3078234/lee-wai-tong-king-asian-football-mentioned-pele-and-ferenc-puskas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3078234/lee-wai-tong-king-asian-football-mentioned-pele-and-ferenc-puskas?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2020 02:57:21 +0000 Kitchee striker Yuto Nakamura considers himself a Hongkonger, and has the SAR passport to prove it; last October, he gave up his Japanese citizenship to take Chinese nationality in Hong Kong. As a growing number of young Hongkongers aspire for new lives in far-flung places, the 32-year-old professional soccer player believes Hong Kong is the place to be. “I am proud of Hong Kong. I hope Hongkongers can be proud of their city, too,” he says. Hong Kong has given him the opportunity to play soccer... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2186242/japanese-soccer-player-yuto-nakamura-hopes-bring-his-adopted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2186242/japanese-soccer-player-yuto-nakamura-hopes-bring-his-adopted?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Feb 2019 04:00:52 +0000 Derek Currie still has the scar given to him by the late Chow Chee Keong. The Hong Kong football legend, who arrived in the city to much fanfare in 1970 from Scotland, was playing for former champions Seiko against Chow’s South China in a domestic match. He bore down on Chow’s goal but the Malaysian goalkeeper flashed his studs and one of them caught Currie on the leg and the man from Glasgow went down. Currie wasn’t happy with the challenge that forced him to go off. And as far as Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2134465/they-thought-we-were-enemies-we-were-best-pals-derek-currie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2134465/they-thought-we-were-enemies-we-were-best-pals-derek-currie?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:03:00 +0000 Fallen Hong Kong heavyweights South China are unlikely to face sanctions from Fifa after settling the majority of their players’ contracts following their decision to drop down to the first division ahead of the new season. South China still had nine players, including three from overseas, under contract for another season when they made the surprising decision to withdraw from the top-flight Premier League in June, with some of the foreign players taking their cases to Fifa for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2106093/south-china-set-avoid-fifa-sanctions-contract-disputes-almost?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2106093/south-china-set-avoid-fifa-sanctions-contract-disputes-almost?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Aug 2017 08:00:19 +0000 There are perhaps few people in the world as qualified to talk about the state of football in Hong Kong as former Manchester United legend Nicky Butt. “I came across here four or five years ago now, so I was surprised at the talent they have and the good young players. But I think it needs to be more professional,” Butt said at an event in Hong Kong to promote Now TV’s football coverage for next season, as well as the new interactive “Ballr” smartphone app. Not only did Butt, 42, get a personal... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100988/hong-kong-football-physically-athletically-technically-deficient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100988/hong-kong-football-physically-athletically-technically-deficient?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jul 2017 02:25:33 +0000 Banished from Hong Kong’s elite sports structure in 1997 for underperforming, the world’s most popular game has made such insignificant progress it appears to be going backwards. The decision to exclude soccer from the Hong Kong Sports Institute 20 years ago has had a far-reaching impact on soccer development – or the lack of it, say players and coaches. “I can’t say Hong Kong soccer has made no progress in the years since the handover, but the progress is so insignificant that when compared to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100368/we-look-were-moving-backwards-how-hong-kong-soccer-has-struggled-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100368/we-look-were-moving-backwards-how-hong-kong-soccer-has-struggled-its?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:15:00 +0000 A senior official at South China hit out at the Hong Kong Premier League on Wednesday as more details of the club’s withdrawal from next season’s competition were disclosed. Lam Tai-fai, who sponsors the youth development programme at South China, questioned the professionalism of the competition this season after organisers allowed amateur outfit Hong Kong Football Club to participate as well as a Guangzhou R&F youth development side. The Chinese Super League club arranged prior to the start of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2097306/south-china-official-blasts-professionalism-hong-kong-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2097306/south-china-official-blasts-professionalism-hong-kong-premier-league?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jun 2017 08:19:10 +0000 Hong Kong coach Kim Pan-gon was forced to apologise for an outburst in a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against Jordan as the fallout from South China’s withdrawal from next season’s Premier League spread to the national team. Kim was facing the media for the first time since the news broke of the Caroliners’ intention to drop down to the second tier in order to “nurture youth players”. He deflected the initial question at Mong Kok Stadium on Tuesday night when asked about his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2097261/hong-kong-coach-kim-pan-gon-apologise-outburst-south-china-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2097261/hong-kong-coach-kim-pan-gon-apologise-outburst-south-china-fallout?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jun 2017 05:03:02 +0000 South China will take on Serie A champions Juventus in an exhibition match at Hong Kong Stadium next month, but the club admits they're worried some of the Italian giant's biggest names may miss the trip. With the Euro 2016 final scheduled for July 10, a number of Juventus’ international stars, headed by France midfielder Paul Pogba and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, will not be available for the Hong Kong match on July 30 should their country make it to the title decider at Stade de France... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1968655/juventus-announce-hong-kong-trip-south-china-voice-concerns-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1968655/juventus-announce-hong-kong-trip-south-china-voice-concerns-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jun 2016 13:15:00 +0000 South China captain Chan Wai-ho said the team had to put behind them the sudden departure of coach Casemiro Mior as they left Hong Kong on Sunday for a crucial AFC Cup tie. The Caroliners, who have been struggling at home and overseas, will meet Maziya of Maldives in group G on Wednesday but Miro did not join the side at the airport. Mior had already said before that the coach will be the first one to take responsibility if there is no result South China captain Chan Wai-ho It was later... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1924129/south-china-coach-casemiro-mior-sacked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1924129/south-china-coach-casemiro-mior-sacked?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000 South China captain Chan Wai-ho and New York Cosmos star Raul will cross paths again - 12 years after they first met on the pitch at Hong Kong Stadium. The last time Chan stepped out to face Raul, Hong Kong was ravaged by Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the centre back was tasked with marking the then Real Madrid forward in a 2003 exhibition match held to restore Hong Kong's battered image as a tourist destination. Raul was in a line-up that included David Beckham, Ronaldo and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1717156/12-years-south-chinas-chan-wai-ho-tackles-raul-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1717156/12-years-south-chinas-chan-wai-ho-tackles-raul-again?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2015 15:15:15 +0000 South China are prepared to bite the bullet and lose money to ensure a big turnout for the AET Lunar New Year Cup clash against the New York Cosmos at Hong Kong Stadium next month. Ticket prices for the annual event, on February 19, have been set at HK$100 - the same as a domestic match - and HK$30 for concessionary tickets for the elderly and students. There will also be a number of designated VIP and corporate box tickets at HK$280 and HK$180 respectively. About 60 per cent of the tickets are... https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1682706/lunar-new-year-cup-organisers-face-big-losses-they-just-want-big?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/1682706/lunar-new-year-cup-organisers-face-big-losses-they-just-want-big?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:00:30 +0000 South China's caretaker team manager Chan Ping-on has called on the players to put the club's troubles behind them ahead of their League Cup group match against I-Sky Yuen Long at Kowloon Bay Park on Friday night. We know there have been some changes at the club which may affect the players but this is not uncommon in Hong Kong soccer Chan Ping-on "We know there have been some changes at the club which may affect the players but this is not uncommon in Hong Kong soccer," said Chan, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/66527/troubled-south-china-urged-stand-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/66527/troubled-south-china-urged-stand-together?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2014 14:00:30 +0000 South China coach Yeung Ching-kwong has warned his team of no more slip-ups when they take on rivals Sun Pegasus in the BOCG Life Premier League at Hong Kong Stadium tonight. The Caroliners were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by bottom club Wofoo Tai Po and Yeung said he did not want another "negative result". They have won all four of their matches so far this season and can slip further away from us in the table if they win Yeung Ching-kwong "We have to take this match like a cup final... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1626064/caroliners-cant-afford-another-slip-says-coach-yeung-ching-kwong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1626064/caroliners-cant-afford-another-slip-says-coach-yeung-ching-kwong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:39:02 +0000