The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Opinion | Clean slate for Hong Kong football with new home, new manager, new CEO and even a new kit

Upcoming friendlies mark a jumping-off point for a fresh start for Hong Kong’s beleaguered football set-up

Reading Time:3 minutes

Hong Kong fans might have more to cheer as Gary White brings in a new era for the national game. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 3:58pm, 30 Sep 2018Updated: 3:58pm, 30 Sep 2018

It’s July 2030. There are 100,000 football fans and guests of Fifa’s corporate partners sat stunned in Wembley. They’ve just seen the first Asian team win the 2030 Fifa World Cup, the awkwardly named UK & Ireland 2030 which followed USMeCan 2026. As the biggest TV audience of all time tunes in to see Hong Kong celebrate a 1-0 smash-and-grab win over England on their home turf, it’s now 64 years of hurt for the Three Lions.

The home team collect their runners-up medals, led by the greying at the temples captain Marcus Rashford and World Footballer of the Year Phil Foden behind them Trent Alexander-Arnold, who still looks mortified after scoring the decisive own goal.

The Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre is now completed. Photo: Roy Issa

Veteran Tsun Dai, 31, is at the head of the Hong Kong players as they go up to the stage hastily arranged on the centre circle. There’s disbelief on their faces but ahead waits the serpentine smile of Gianni Infantino and another gleaming orb, the World Cup trophy. They set off to collect their medals, the crowd going wild at the team that has become everyone’s second favourite during the upset riddled 128-team tournament.

The smallest population since Uruguay won in 1930 and 1950.

Representing the 8 milllion back home, there’s Tan Chun-lok and Brian Fok, bandaged up after throwing his head on the line, receiving their medals, cameras flashing through winner’s medals collected, it’s left to Tsun to lift the famous trophy ...

Obviously, that’s total fantasy.

Will promising Hong Kong talent Dai Wai-tsun (right) be part of a successful new generation? Photo: Handout