World Cup qualifiers: Paatelainen has ‘fighting’ unit ready for battle against Middle East powers
- Hong Kong manager says he never goes to a match to lose as team take on Iraq, Iran and hosts Bahrain in zonal competition to complete the qualifiers
- The local squad are missing key players but Finn is impressed by the players’ attitude before they take on herculean task
Manager Mixu Paatelainen says Hong Kong are heading for Bahrain with a team of “fighters” on Saturday as they get ready for a seemingly impossible task in the Middle East for the remaining 2022 Fifa World Cup Asian zone qualifiers.
Despite missing several key players who play in China as their clubs have refused to release them due to quarantine requirements, the Finn was still happy with his squad before they face regional heavyweights Iraq, Iran and hosts Bahrain in the next two weeks.
“I am very happy with the squad, a squad of players who are fighters, a squad of players who have fantastic attitude and they are the players I want,” said Paatelainen, whose contract with the Hong Kong Football Association is due to expire next month and will leave Hong Kong for Bahrain on Saturday night.
“We will face three high level opponents in the event, but I am delighted with the players’ attitude. Every one is fully committed. In fact, it has been a long time since we last got together and therefore it’s great to see the boys again, talk to them and prepare them for the event.”
One of the “fighters”, midfielder Ngan Lok-fung whose impressive performance with Lee Man this season has earned him a call-up to the Hong Kong team after an eight-year absence.