South China will have to work twice as hard to get back to the top this season, says coach Casemiro Mior
Heavyweights South China face a daunting task to bounce back from a disappointing season of failing to secure any major silverware in domestic competitions.
Despite reaching the quarterfinals in the regional AFC Cup where they will take on Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, the Caroliners suffered a poor run at home last season, managing fourth place in the inaugural Premier League and losing to Kitchee in the League Cup final. They failed to reach the two other major cup tie finals - the Senior Shield and FA Cup.
We are still trying to come back from a shaky season when both the squad and management underwent big changes
Brazilian Casemiro Mior, who returned to Hong Kong in May as South China head coach for the third time, admitted they had no easy task in the upcoming season.
"South China are definitely the underdogs compared to other title front-runners," said Mior, who led their first practice session for the upcoming season yesterday. "While champions Kitchee remain the team to beat and ambitious Eastern are splashing money to secure the best players they can, we are still trying to come back from a shaky season when both the squad and management underwent big changes.
"We must work twice as hard as other teams in the new season if we want to become a real title challenger again and the players know this well."
New overseas strikers Lucas da Silva, from Brazil and Boima Karpeh, a Liberian-Australian player, are poised to strengthen their fire power up front in addition to speedy winger Mahama Awal, goalkeeper Cristian Mora, reliable centre half Bojan Malisic and forward Yuto Nakamura all of whom have been retained.