appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paul McNamara

Ryan Tafazolli has been inundated with messages from players who want to follow in his footsteps and swap the grind of English football for career-extending spells in Hong Kong.
After completing a shock loan switch from League One Wycombe Wanderers to Lee Man in January, Tafazolli has been sharing his exploits on his popular YouTube channel.
And the centre back, who has been ever present for the Hong Kong Premier League club since he joined, said he would be keen to stay next season.
“I’ve had messages from Championship and League One players asking if I know contacts or agents who could help get them to Hong Kong,” Tafazolli said. “You’d be surprised by the level of players [interested in coming].
“They’ve seen the YouTube videos and think it looks really appealing.
“Back home, it’s hard, you play 60 games a season and it takes a toll on your body. Hong Kong is good for players who still have a lot to offer and want to prolong their careers.”
But Tafazolli said players should not come thinking it would be an easy ride.
“It’s enjoyable, but that’s not the reason for being here,” he said. “I want to win every match and I’m fuming if I lose a small-sided game in training.”












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by 理文足球隊 Lee Man Football Club (@leeman_footballclub)



If any of those players contacting Tafazolli were to ask for his advice, he would definitely advocate coming to Hong Kong.
“If you’re an attacker here, you have to be individually brilliant,” Tafazolli said. “Wingers try to beat their man around the halfway line, which you wouldn’t risk in England. Here, it becomes one-v-one all over the pitch. You need the X-factor to take on your man and that would suit some players back home.”
The 33-year-old said while the level of football in Hong Kong was good, at times it was “like you’re playing a different sport”.
“It can become like a basketball game: you attack, then they attack,” said Tafazolli, whose side have won six of their past eight matches, but have also lost 7-3 to title rivals Tai Po and 4-0 to Southern in the Sapling Cup final.
“Against Southern, we’d be attacking, then, before you knew it, it would be like the Red Arrows running at us,” he said. “It was crazy.”
Tafazolli said he had formed great relationships with the club’s staff, while teammates who initially “wondered why I was shouting so much on the pitch”, had come to appreciate his organising and in-game coaching.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by 理文足球隊 Lee Man Football Club (@leeman_footballclub)



On Sunday, Tafazolli scored a “long overdue” first goal when Lee Man won 4-0 at Football Club to stay in the championship hunt with three games remaining. For the first time, however, he did not complete a fixture, after a left-knee problem, caused by over compensating for a right-ankle issue, “got too much”.
Tafazolli vowed to be available for the run-in, saying he would not miss a game “even if my leg is broken”.
Anyone who watched Tafazolli’s latest broadcast, which has around 40,000 views, would have seen that he “locks in” 48 hours before matches. His dedication to “recovering, eating well and getting my body right”, has limited chances to explore Hong Kong.
But he has seen enough to know he wants to stay.
“I really like the people, the lifestyle and the standard of football,” he said. “I’m open to staying. I have to earn the right, though.”


Australian former Wellington Phoenix boss lands Hong Kong club post

7 Hong Kong women’s footballers on the game, fashion and how the two mix

‘Hong Kong football is finished’? Not if Roberto Losada is given a fair chance

Harness World Cup fever to grow Hong Kong football

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

English football stars contacting Wycombe loanee Ryan Tafazolli about Hong Kong transfers

Ryan Tafazolli (centre) says he has been inundated with messages from players who want to follow in his footsteps and swap the grind of English football for career-extending spells in Hong Kong. Photo: Lee Man FC

Kai Tak’s lack of cricket ground is missed opportunity, governing body’s ex-CEO says

Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground is set up for athletics, rugby and football, but not cricket. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara during his second Hong Kong T20 Blitz appearance in 2018. Photo: Phoebe Leung 

Tim Cutler pictured in 2016, before the inaugural T20 Blitz. Photo: Nora Tam

Lee Man president out to avoid more head coach errors, wants to spend HK$25m budget wisely

The individual genius of Everton Camargo is keeping Lee Man’s titles hopes alive. Photo: Elson Li

Matt Holland, who had only 13 matches in charge, on the touchline during a clash with Kitchee. Photo: Nora Tam

Striker Henri Anier is among the Lee Man players out of contract this summer. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Football

Defender keen to stay in Hong Kong when loan from Wycombe Wanderers expires at end of season, says football in city ‘like a different sport’


Defender keen to stay in Hong Kong when loan from Wycombe Wanderers expires at end of season, says football in city ‘like a different sport’.


Hong Kong Premier League

English football stars contacting Wycombe loanee Ryan Tafazolli about Hong Kong transfers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Defender keen to stay in Hong Kong when loan from Wycombe Wanderers expires at end of season, says football in city ‘like a different sport’

Defender keen to stay in Hong Kong when loan from Wycombe Wanderers expires at end of season, says football in city ‘like a different sport’