Hong Kong should play all future matches at Kai Tak Stadium, goalscorer Pereira says
After 42,000 watch team’s debut at new venue, Stefan Pereira argues Hong Kong will ‘win games here if we have these people supporting us’
Hong Kong’s match-winner Stefan Pereira said he hoped the city’s football team could make Kai Tak Stadium their regular home after more than 42,000 fans roared them to victory there on Tuesday.
A 1-0 defeat of India on the team’s debut appearance at the new venue rewarded a crowd that dwarfed the 6,092 who showed up for a scoreless friendly with Nepal at Hong Kong Stadium last week.
And Pereira, whose stoppage-time penalty earned Hong Kong three crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying points, was keen to harness the fervour on show.
“I hope this can become our home ground – the atmosphere is amazing and everyone saw how we played,” Pereira said. “We’ve never felt something like this.
“When we saw so many people screaming and supporting us, and shouting ‘ga yau’, it was an amazing feeling. We will win games here if we have these people supporting us.
“I hope many people celebrate this victory, and the fans come to games more and more.”