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Jonathan White

Hong Kong footballer Dai Wai-tsun scored both of Shenzhen’s goals in their 2-2 Chinese Super League draw with Shandong Taishan on Friday night, his first professional brace.
The 21-year-old’s double cancelled out two goals from former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini for Shandong.
Dai’s first goal was a left footed shot from outside the area which arrowed in off the post to level the scores at 1-1 on 46 minutes.
His second levelled the scores at 2-2 after a Fellaini penalty, this time volleying home from inside the box after Shandong failed to clear. The point took Shandong top of group A.


“Everyone worked hard today, did a good job, and worked hard according to the coach‘s requirements. It’s a pity that we didn’t win,” Dai said after the game.
“The coach always lets me into the penalty area these days. He knows that I have a strong ability to hit the target. He told me to lean forward and hit the goal if I had a chance. Don‘t think about it too much,” Dai said of coach Jordi Cruyff’s advice.
China or Hong Kong? Tsun Dai makes his choice
Dai also thanked the Shenzhen fans for travelling to Guangzhou to watch the team play in the CSL group A bubble.“Thank you to the fans for coming so far to watch us play. It is a pity that we did not repay them. I hope they believe in us and we will try our best to get three points.”
Tsun Dai as he is known in the UK, played for Bury, Oxford United and Wolverhampton Wanderers under-23s after moving to the country as a child. He then joined Shenzhen ahead of the 2020 season, where he is known as Dai Weijun.
He has already doubled last season’s tally three games into the season, having scored one goal in 14 CSL appearances last time out.

FT: Shandong Taishan 2:2 Shenzhen FC. Fellaini's brace helped Shandong take the lead for twice but Dai Wai Tsun's two spectacular equalizers gained 1 point for Jordi Cruyff's team. The 21-year-old midfielder from Hongkong may soon to be eligible to play for the China NT. pic.twitter.com/LM8CH5qAEa
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) May 14, 2021

While he is eligible to play for Hong Kong, the midfielder has not yet played for the representative side though he was first called up to the squad for two October 2018 friendlies as a teenager.
The Hong Kong-born prospect missed out on Gary White’s final squad but was then training with China’s under-21 side.
Dai has since said that he would like to play for China, telling Guangzhou media after scoring his first Shenzhen goal last August in a game against Guangzhou R&F (now Guangzhou City).
Hongkonger Dai scores first CSL goal in battle with Tan’s Guangzhou R&F
“I surely want to play for China,” said Dai, who has played for Hong Kong in a number of youth tournaments. “But I won’t say I can represent China after playing only two good games. It’s still too early to say anything. My priority at the moment is to do a good job for my team.”
Nonetheless, Hong Kong coach Mixu Paatelainen said that Dai was on his radar last season.
“Both players are on my radar,” the Finn told the Post last August. “Dai is eligible [to play] for Hong Kong and hopefully he can represent the team one day.

“He had a very good development in England and also trained in the Netherlands where they always develop players in the right way. He will gain valuable experience playing in the CSL.”
The only other Hong Kong footballer playing in the CSL is Tan Chun-lok at Guangzhou City.


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Chinese Super League

Hong Kong’s Tsun Dai pegs back Marouane Fellaini’s Shandong Taishan with Chinese Super League brace

Dai Wai-tsun in action for Shenzhen against Guangzhou R&F in the 2020 Chinese Super League. Dai Weijun (front) of Shenzhen Jiazhaoye breaks through during the 8th round match between Shenzhen Jiazhaoye and Guangzhou R&F at the postponed 2020 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Dalian Division in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Long Lei)

(210514) -- GUANGZHOU, May 14, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Marouane Fellaini of Shandong Taishan celebrates during the 5th round match between Shenzhen FC and Shandong Taishan at the 2021 season Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) Guangzhou Division in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, May 14, 2021. (Xinhua)

Tsun Dai wants to represent China and not Hong Kong

Dai Wai-tsun (in white) of Shenzhen breaks through during the Chinese Super League game against Guangzhou R&F in Liaoning. Photo: Xinhua

Dai Wai-tsun in Hong Kong during 2018 summer

Tsun Dai poses with the shirt of new club Oxford United. Photo: Tsun Dai/Instagram

Portrait of soccer player Dai Wai-tsun, who plays for League One side Bury in England, photographed at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai. 11MAY18 SCMP / Winson Wong

CSL: Hongkonger Tsun Dai grabs assist to help Shenzhen draw

John Mary of Shenzhen celebrates scoring against Jiangsu Suning in the Chinese Super League in Dalian. Photo: Xinhua

Rafa Benitez’s Dalian Pro get first CSL win of season as Hongkonger Tsun Dai scores first goal

Dalian Pro head coach Rafael Benitez celebrates with his players after winning their Chinese Super League match against Shandong Luneng. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong’s Tsun Dai joins Premier League Wolves from Oxford United

Tsun Dai poses in the kit of English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Photo: Twitter/Wolverhampton Wanderers

Dai Wai-tsun (in blue) in action during a friendly game in Hong Kong this summer

Tsun Dai to play for China? Plot thickens as hot prospect refuses to commit allegiance to Hong Kong

Dai Wai-tsun speaks to a Chinese reporter during a training camp with China’s under-21 squad. Photos: QQ.com

Photos: QQ.com

Sport


Dai Wai-tsun doubles last season’s Chinese Super League tally with two screamers for Shenzhen in 2-2 draw with Shandong Taishan
The 21-year-old’s international future is up in the air since he made it clear he wants to play for China over Hong Kong



The 21-year-old’s international future is up in the air since he made it clear he wants to play for China over Hong Kong.


Chinese Football Association (CFA)

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China