Festus Baise faces race against time to join Hong Kong team
- The Nigerian-born utility player needs to play two more matches for Guizhou Hengfeng
- Hong Kong coach Gary White hopes he can join the rest of the squad this week
Utility player Festus Baise is racing against time to join his Hong Kong teammates this week and join the “fight” after failing to help his mainland club stave off relegation in the Chinese Super League.
Hong Kong coach Gary White wants Baise to return to the city as soon as possible as his charges get ready to take part in the EAFF Championship second round, which kicks off in Taipei this weekend.
Nigerian-born Baise was named in White’s 20-member squad on Sunday night and the 44-year-old wants the Guizhou Hengfeng player back to his squad quickly, thinking it’s a lost cause for him to stay with the already-relegated club.
Guizhou have two matches left in the season. They visit Henan Jianye on Wednesday before playing host to Chongqing Siwei on the final day of the season on Sunday. However, the club are entrenched at the bottom of the table with no hope of catching other clubs.
The 38-year-old Baise will already miss Monday’s training session at Tseung Kwan O and White wants him to return in midweek.
