Hong Kong Premier League: Dejan Damjanovic missing again as Kitchee thrash Southern to maintain grip on title
- Defending champions run out 5-0 winners on the road despite absence of their star striker on Saturday
- Prolific hitman is rumoured to be involved in a legal dispute with his club, and has now missed their last two games
Kitchee thrashed home team Kwoon Chung Southern 5-0 on Saturday despite the absence of star striker Dejan Damjanovic, maintaining their tight grip on the Hong Kong Premier League.
The defending champions and their prolific hitman are rumoured to be involved in a row over Damjanovic’s decision to return to see family in his home country of Montenegro over Christmas.
Kitchee reportedly denied the striker permission to travel and then fined him on his return. Damjanovic in response is believed to have taken legal action.
He has now missed two games for the club, including last week’s 2-2 draw with Eastern in the Sapling Cup, a result that knocked Kitchee out.
Kitchee head coach Chu Chi-kwong said Damjanovic, who has scored 17 times in the league so far this season, had been suspended by the club for “disciplinary” reasons and would not say when the striker might return.
Ken Ng Kin, the club’s president, would not comment other than to say no one player was indispensable and Damjanovic’s return was a matter for Chu.