https://www.scmp.com/rss/523397/feed The latest news and top stories on Lee Chi-kin, a Hong Kong football manager and chief coach at Tai Po. He guided the team to its second Hong Kong Premier League title in 2024-25. Recognised as Hong Kong's Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019, he achieved a cup double with Eastern. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara At first glance there is very little resting on Hong Kong’s Asian Cup qualifier in India on Tuesday, but the dead-rubber contest could potentially shape the next two years for the city team. An assured performance in steamy Kochi would strengthen interim boss Roberto Losada’s case to be chosen ahead of more than 300 rivals for the permanent head coach post. After what is expected to be the final stage of his very public audition for the role, Losada will outline a 24-month plan to his Football... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348356/asian-cup-clash-india-could-shape-hong-kong-future-roberto-losada-continues-audition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3348356/asian-cup-clash-india-could-shape-hong-kong-future-roberto-losada-continues-audition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The family who bankroll Hong Kong Premier League side Tai Po say they are fully committed to the reigning champions, but any decision over the club’s future beyond this season belongs to president Peter Lam Yick-kuen. Sources previously told the South China Morning Post that Francis and Catherine Yip were ending their involvement, and after being beaten by Southern last weekend, head coach Lee Chi-kin said he did not know how much cash the Yips planned to invest next season. But Francis Yip, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345649/tai-po-backers-deny-theyll-pull-plug-team-say-hong-kong-champions-have-full-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345649/tai-po-backers-deny-theyll-pull-plug-team-say-hong-kong-champions-have-full-support?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Talented young Tai Po forward Lee Lok-him is juggling his football career with working on a geriatric hospital ward as part of the nursing degree he is taking to safeguard his future. Identified as a serious Hong Kong prospect by interim head coach Roberto Losada, the 21-year-old Lee started and finished Tai Po’s weekend defeat by Southern, after a decisive cameo off the bench in the recent Senior Shield final victory over BC Rangers. He said he was “a bit shocked but also excited” to be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345087/meet-hong-kong-footballer-balancing-passion-nursing-chasing-china-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345087/meet-hong-kong-footballer-balancing-passion-nursing-chasing-china-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:30:10 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The future of reigning Hong Kong Premier League champions Tai Po has been left shrouded in uncertainty, with the club’s owners reportedly considering pulling out at the end of the season. Sources have told the South China Morning Post that Francis and Catherine Yip, the husband-and-wife pair, are considering cutting their ties after four years of bankrolling the district club. The SCMP has also been told that none of the large number of players whose contracts expire this summer have been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345020/uncertainty-surrounds-tai-po-future-owners-consider-pulling-plug-football-club?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3345020/uncertainty-surrounds-tai-po-future-owners-consider-pulling-plug-football-club?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Philip Chan Siu-kwan believes Tai Po desperately need to win the Senior Shield on Wednesday to “turn down the negative noises” that have gathered around the reigning league champions. Poised to battle BC Rangers for the first trophy of the campaign, Tai Po have waved the white flag on their Hong Kong Premier League title defence following a season marred by injuries and uncharacteristic fallibility at the back. They conceded 13 goals during a recent run of three defeats in four matches that left... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343752/hong-kong-midfielder-philip-chan-out-silence-tai-po-doubters-senior-shield-win?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343752/hong-kong-midfielder-philip-chan-out-silence-tai-po-doubters-senior-shield-win?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:00:40 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The BC Rangers goalkeeper, Yip Ka-yu, has been selected for Hong Kong eight months after his rape conviction was overturned. Yip is in a 23-man squad for next weekend’s Lunar New Year Cup meeting with FC Seoul at Hong Kong Stadium. The 29-year-old has kept two clean sheets in 13 matches since joining Rangers on the eve of this campaign. He was in the team that beat Eastern last Sunday to progress to the Senior Shield final, where Rangers will play Tai Po at Mong Kok Stadium next Wednesday, three... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343305/hong-kong-footballer-city-squad-eight-months-after-rape-conviction-overturned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3343305/hong-kong-footballer-city-squad-eight-months-after-rape-conviction-overturned?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Kitchee christened their new Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground home with a 4-2 victory over listless defending champions Tai Po on Sunday, underlining their resurgence under Inigo Calderon and opening up a nine-point gap at the local league summit. Not that Calderon, the head coach, was entirely happy after his side lost control of a game they led 4-0 at half-time. “We’re feeling bad after we beat the champions, which is good because that’s the level we want to reach, but we relaxed in the second half... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341170/hong-kong-giants-kitchee-christen-new-home-style-leaving-champions-tai-po-muddle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3341170/hong-kong-giants-kitchee-christen-new-home-style-leaving-champions-tai-po-muddle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:58:26 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Lee Chi-kin acknowledged Tai Po “still have a lot to learn” about competing against the continent’s best teams, ahead of their farewell AFC Champions League Two clash with Cong An Hanoi on Thursday. The local champions have made a good fist of their first Asian venture since 2020, but a 2-1 away defeat by Macarthur in Australia a fortnight ago condemned them to a group-stage exit with one match remaining. They lost all three away games, but have managed one win and one draw at home. Already... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335942/afc-champions-league-2-tai-po-boss-aiming-grand-finale-team-have-lots-learn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335942/afc-champions-league-2-tai-po-boss-aiming-grand-finale-team-have-lots-learn?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:00:18 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tai Po’s footballers had their community in mind as they returned to domestic action on Thursday following the fire that killed at least 159 people in the district. All ticket proceeds from the match were donated to the Wang Fuk Court support fund, while on the pitch, Tai Po shared a 1-1 draw with North District. Philip Chan Siu-kwan turned home a 51st-minute cross from Fernando to give Tai Po the lead at North District Sports Ground in Sheung Shui, although the goal was awarded only after a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335234/tai-po-players-here-help-community-they-play-first-match-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3335234/tai-po-players-here-help-community-they-play-first-match-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 12:17:55 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Roberto Losada has said he would be “super-ready” to become the new Hong Kong head coach if asked, after Ashley Westwood vacated the position on Monday. Speaking at a press conference ahead of his Eastern team’s AFC Champions League Two clash with Gamba Osaka on Thursday, Losada originally said it was “not the moment” to talk about the city team post. A Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) official then moved to shut down the topic, but Losada said: “The only thing I can say is I’m... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334269/hong-kong-seeks-new-football-coach-roberto-losada-says-he-super-ready?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334269/hong-kong-seeks-new-football-coach-roberto-losada-says-he-super-ready?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 23:00:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tse Ka-wing has called on Tai Po to give Hong Kong football a timely boost when they go to Macarthur in Sydney for a vital AFC Champions League Two clash on Thursday afternoon. The local champions would leapfrog the table-topping Australians with a victory, but defeat could potentially spell the end of their hopes for progress. Faced with a similar Asian Cup qualifying scenario last week, Hong Kong lost to Singapore, who reached the 2027 finals at their expense. “If we do well, it won’t only be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334071/hong-kong-football-licks-its-wounds-tse-wants-tai-po-lift-city-afc-tie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3334071/hong-kong-football-licks-its-wounds-tse-wants-tai-po-lift-city-afc-tie?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:02 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tai Po head coach Lee Chi-kin said he would be open to managing Hong Kong, as local football chiefs extended their silence over the future of head coach Ashley Westwood to a fourth day. Sources have told the Post that Westwood would be leaving his job following the defeat by Singapore on Tuesday that cost the city team their place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals. While the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) stayed quiet, the pair of Philip Chan Siu-kwan and Tse Ka-wing had their... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3333810/title-winning-boss-eyes-hong-kong-job-keeper-hits-back-westwood-saga-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3333810/title-winning-boss-eyes-hong-kong-job-keeper-hits-back-westwood-saga-rumbles?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:18 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The debut ranking of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution in the top 10 per cent of universities worldwide fosters better self-awareness, its president has said, while stressing the school is defined by more than the rating. Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) president John Lee Chi-kin told the Post in an exclusive interview that the institution took part in the ranking exercise by the prominent British publication, Times Higher Education, following the suggestions of some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3330293/debut-ranking-top-10-globally-boosts-self-awareness-hong-kongs-eduhk-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3330293/debut-ranking-top-10-globally-boosts-self-awareness-hong-kongs-eduhk-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:00:25 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara On the eve of Eastern’s AFC Champions League Two clash with Nam Dinh on Thursday, head coach Roberto Losada issued a stark appraisal of his club’s current predicament. The Hong Kong FA Cup holders lost a succession of key performers over the summer, after being similarly raided midway through last season. The majority of new recruits arrived deep into pre-season, and an unusually disjointed Eastern have won only two of their six matches in all competitions. They lost their opening ACL2 game 3-1... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327534/eastern-boss-says-club-survival-moment-ahead-afc-champions-league-2-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327534/eastern-boss-says-club-survival-moment-ahead-afc-champions-league-2-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Midfielder Remi Dujardin said Tai Po would be fighting for the honour of Hong Kong football when they enter the lion’s den at Cong An Hanoi on Thursday. After beating Macarthur for a winning start to their AFC Champions League Two campaign a fortnight ago, the Hong Kong champions’ continental quest is about to grow tougher on their visit to the Vietnamese cup holders’ 22,500 capacity Hang Day Stadium. But Dujardin said “inspirational” head coach Lee Chi-kin had convinced his team anything was... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327281/afc-champions-league-2-inspired-tai-po-fighting-hong-kongs-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3327281/afc-champions-league-2-inspired-tai-po-fighting-hong-kongs-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:00:18 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara As the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa sparked safety measures across Hong Kong on Sunday, the city’s football Premier League went ahead in farcical conditions. Amid torrential rain, Tai Po’s match against Kowloon City at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground was given the go-ahead by referee Luk Kin-sun despite rainstorm and thunderstorm warnings issued beforehand by Hong Kong Observatory. Southern’s meeting with Eastern at Aberdeen Sports Ground also passed inspections. In England on Saturday, Blackburn... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3326300/super-typhoon-ragasa-football-farce-hong-kong-matches-proceed-amid-flooding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3326300/super-typhoon-ragasa-football-farce-hong-kong-matches-proceed-amid-flooding?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:06:17 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara A more mature Harry Sawyer said his 2018-19 title-winning stint with Tai Po was “a massive learning experience” but there would be no mixed emotions as he tried to wreck his old club’s AFC Champions League Two campaign. Sawyer will run into old teammates when he turns out for A-League side Macarthur at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday, in what will be Tai Po’s first continental fixture since 2020. The 28-year-old Australian scored 10 goals in 24 appearances for the Hong Kong side, whom he played for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325881/australian-striker-sawyer-out-wreck-old-club-tai-pos-return-afc-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325881/australian-striker-sawyer-out-wreck-old-club-tai-pos-return-afc-champions-league?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:00:16 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Tai Po’s inside man James Temelkovski has warned Macarthur that his side are planning to “create chaos” when the teams clash on Thursday in the AFC Champions League 2. Australian Temelkovski, who has scored four goals in four appearances for the Hong Kong champions following his summer transfer from Western Sydney Wanderers, has also been providing his new colleagues with the lowdown on their A-League opponents. “The coaches have asked me about them,” said Temelkovski, who played against... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325796/asian-champions-league-expect-chaos-tai-pos-australian-ace-tells-compatriots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3325796/asian-champions-league-expect-chaos-tai-pos-australian-ace-tells-compatriots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 02:42:12 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Champions Tai Po are geared up for a meeting with big-spending Lee Man on Saturday, as the new Hong Kong Premier League campaign gets under way with a bumper weekend of matches. Eastern District, who have joined what is now a 10-team top flight, will go to last season’s assured new boys Kowloon City on Sunday. The whole show gets on the road when Eastern host Kitchee on Friday at Mong Kok Stadium. North District, tipped by a lot of insiders for a vastly improved campaign, host Football Club on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323588/hong-kong-premier-league-lee-man-pip-tai-po-title-more-silverware-eastern?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323588/hong-kong-premier-league-lee-man-pip-tai-po-title-more-silverware-eastern?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Hong Kong international Nicholas Benavides has pledged to never give up on his bid to win over Tai Po title-winning head coach Lee Chi-kin. The versatile left-footer has made as many appearances for the city team, six, as he has starts for Tai Po, since he joined from Sham Shui Po last summer. Rumours over a potential switch to the mainland were shut down by Lee, who said he had received no offers, but would want a transfer fee to allow Benavides to leave. “We are a professional club and should... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319235/hong-kong-footballer-makes-tai-po-pledge-club-demand-fee-any-mainland-china-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3319235/hong-kong-footballer-makes-tai-po-pledge-club-demand-fee-any-mainland-china-move?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 05:48:10 +0000