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Paul McNamara

Lee Man are poised to begin the defence of their Hong Kong Premier League (HKPL) crown with a tricky trip to Southern on Saturday.
The league has new blood in Division One Champions Kowloon City, but is down to nine teams following the shelving of HKU23 and self-relegations for the financially ailing pair of Sham Shui Po and RCFC.
Kitchee are keen to reassert themselves as local league kings following a shambolic end to 2023-24, while Lee Man can expect challenges to their supremacy from Tai Po and Eastern.
Here the Post studies the runners and riders.
Lee Man
Manager: Tsang Chiu-tat.
Home ground: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.
Last season: 1st.
Summer report: The champions lost quality defenders in Tsui Wang-kit and Yu Wai-lim, who both left for China League One. They recruited shrewdly, however, adding excellent young fullback Timothy Chow from HKFC and former Malmo and Sweden midfielder Jiloan Hamad. Keeping hold of forward Everton Camargo counts as good business, while Lee Man smartly retained classy Dutch midfielder Mitchel Paulissen and Henri Anier, joint-top marksman in last season’s HKPL.
Forecast: Lee Man did not lose a game last season, but will do well to survive the opening two games unscathed, with visits to Southern and Tai Po first up. A generous AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) draw raises exciting continental possibilities, which could distract from domestic affairs. Prediction: 2nd.

Tai Po
Manager: Lee Chi-kin.
Home ground: Tai Po Sports Ground.
Last season: 2nd.
Summer report: Tai Po pulled off a coup with the return of forward Igor Sartori from Kitchee. The club’s Brazilian scouting was prolific again, while Philip Chan Siu-kwan, last season’s HKPL player of the year, resisted overtures from elsewhere.
Forecast: Tai Po’s formidable defence, married to increased attacking flair, makes for a dangerous cocktail. They came up on the rails last season, but start well and boss Lee could repeat his 2018-19 feat – the district club’s only title. Prediction: 1st.
Eastern
Manager: Roberto Losada.
Home ground: Mong Kok Stadium.
Last season: 3rd.
Summer report: Losada stayed put following links with the Hong Kong job, and got forward Victor Bertomeu and Alex Jojo to rejoin the club. Representative team midfielder Lam Hin-ting signed from Rangers.
Forecast: Another team who could potentially spread themselves thinly between ACL2 and local matters, Eastern mix youth and experience and are capable of beating anyone. Prediction: 4th.

Kitchee
Manager: Edgar Cardoso.
Home ground: Mong Kok Stadium.
Last season: 4th.
Summer report: There are changes all around at the dethroned champions, with Cardoso replacing Kim Dong-jin at the helm. A number of players were hurried through the exit after last season’s collapse. Brazilian forward Welthon and ex-Blackburn Rovers defender Jay Haddow headline the new arrivals.
Forecast: There is a large element of the unknown about Kitchee’s management and playing staff, but without Asian football to manage, considerable improvement is a must. Prediction: 3rd.
Southern
Manager: Yeung Ching-kwong.
Home ground: Aberdeen Sports Ground.
Last season: 5th.
Summer report: Southern signed Rondinelli da Silva on July 11, only for the Brazilian striker to leave on July 13. The club subsequently rowed back on their decision to release Stefan Pereira, who penned a fresh deal.
Forecast: They look best of the rest, capable of toppling any opponent on a good day, but a bad day leaves them vulnerable to all comers. Prediction: 5th.

Rangers
Manager: Tim Bredbury.
Home ground: Tsing Yi Sports Ground.
Last season: 6th.
Summer report: There was a big blow for Rangers when talented 18-year-old midfielder Sergio Chiu Ching-yu quit for Thailand, while Lam Hin-ting is another significant loss.
Forecast: It will be a tall order for Bredbury to just tread water following his return for a fourth spell in charge. Prediction: 7th.
Hong Kong Football Club
Manager: Chancy Cooke.
Home ground: HKFC Stadium.
Last season: 7th.
Summer report: Cooke was appointed Hong Kong Football Club boss following the departure of long-serving Tony Hamilton-Bram, while a huge influx of players included defender Andy Russell from Kitchee.
Forecast: HKFC are capable of springing a surprise or two and improving on last season’s showing. Prediction: 6th.

North District
Manager: Pau Ka-yiu.
Home ground: North District Sports Ground.
Last season: 8th.
Summer report: Sweeping changes were made after North District were caught up in last season’s match-fixing scandal. Goalkeeper Pong Cheuk-hei, 20, from RCFC, is the stand-out acquisition.
Forecast: The portents are not good for a side that was kept off the bottom last term only by the three teams no longer in the division. Prediction: 9th.
Kowloon City
Manager: Chan Ming-kong.
Home ground: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground.
Last season: 1st, Hong Kong Division One.
Summer report: The new boys creamed off talent from HKU23 and RCFC, while versatile veteran Diego Eli, from Lee Man, was among the experienced joiners.
Forecast: The well-run club are prioritising survival in their opening top-flight season and look equipped to achieve it.


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Lee Man begin the defence of their Hong Kong Premier League title this weekend. Photo: Elson Li.

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Roberto Losada remained Eastern boss following links with the Hong Kong post. Photo: Mike Chan

Stefan Pereira signed a new Southern deal after initially being released. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Former Hong Kong defender Andy Russell signed for HKFC following his Kitchee exit. Photo: Edmond So.

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FA chairman Eric Fok with new head coach Ashley Westwood on Wednesday. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

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Hong Kong Premier League matches in front of empty stands are commonplace. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Mahama Awal of Kwoon Chung Southern does his best to raise the pulse against Lee Man. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Eastern (in blue) and Tai Po are two of the remaining nine Hong Kong Premier League clubs. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Philip Chan Siu-kwan (centre) provided a high point of Hong Kong’s year when he scored at the Asian Cup, but the odds were stacked against his team. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong players celebrate beating Iran to reach the Asian Games semi-finals. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Jorn Andersen had his share of frustrations while he was Hong Kong head coach. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong players salute their travelling fans after exiting the Asian Cup in Qatar in January. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Local league under way this weekend, with champions Lee Man going to Southern and Tai Po hosting new boys Kowloon City


Local league under way this weekend, with champions Lee Man going to Southern and Tai Po hosting new boys Kowloon City.


Hong Kong Premier League

Hong Kong Premier League 2024-25 kick-off: ins and outs at the 9 clubs, season predictions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Local league under way this weekend, with champions Lee Man going to Southern and Tai Po hosting new boys Kowloon City

Lee Man

Local league under way this weekend, with champions Lee Man going to Southern and Tai Po hosting new boys Kowloon City