Paulo Carreiro on a mission to secure his place for Kitchee
Brazilian hopes to be one of three foreign imports for Kitchee in regional campaign
Kitchee's Brazilian forward Paulo Carreiro is out to impress in today's Canbo Senior Shield soccer semi-final against Wong Tai Sin as he battles to fill one of three foreign players' places for his club's regional cup campaign next year.
Carreiro, enjoying his best campaign with his new club since joining Citizen in the summer, hopes to join likely candidates, striker Juan Belencoso and centre half Fernando Recio as the three foreign imports for Kitchee, who will compete in the 2015 Asian Champions League, starting in February.
Carreiro will be vying with Spanish striker Jorge Tarres, the other foreign player looking to fill in the remaining slot, but knows it will be difficult. Midfielder Kim Tae-min from South Korea will be their Asian expatriate and Kitchee coach Jose Molina will make a decision next week.
"Of course, there is still time before our first regional cup match in February and you never know what will happen in soccer. But it will be difficult for me."
Belencoso, Tarres and Recio were the three foreign players for Kitchee who reached the AFC Cup semi-finals this year. The club will compete in the preliminary rounds of the 2015 Asian Champions League and if they make an exit, they will play in the AFC Cup.
Carreiro, who has fulfilled the seven-year residential requirement to become a local player next month, said he was pleased with his new club.