Hong Kong goalkeeper Ng Yee-sun joins Sporting Lisbon in historic signing – ‘I want to prove that we Asians are the same’
- The 17-year-old goalkeeper, familiarly known as ‘Sun’, thrust into training with Bruno Fernandes and Jeremy Mathieu
- Hongkonger Ng praises his parents for supporting his childhood dream, despite the city’s ‘doctor or lawyer’ stereotypes
Picture the scene: Bruno Fernandes is looking for a training partner to practice shooting drills against during a crucial winter session last year. The Sporting Lisbon-turned-Manchester United star needs a competent and formidable goalkeeper.
“That day I was training with the Under-19s and one of the first team assistant coaches came to us and said ‘we need a goalie’ on the side where the first team players train,” recalled 17-year-old Hongkonger Ng Yee-sun, or “Sun”, who officially became a player for Portuguese Primeira Liga side Sporting CP last week after two years of paperwork.
“My goalkeeping coach said ‘Sun, go with them’. I was really excited because it was the first time I met Bruno and [Jeremy] Mathieu. It was a special experience. Even Mathieu, the central defender who played in Barcelona. Of course he’s a good defender, but more than that, he’s a good striker.”
Fernandes and Mathieu aside, Sporting’s squad is filled with national team regulars, marquee transfer signings and continental cup winners. There is one continent missing, however.
“In my team, I’m the only player from Asia,” he said. “Most of the team is from Europe, South America and Africa. They all represent their home nation at the highest level and have a lot of trophies. I just want to prove and let everyone know that if we work hard enough, we are the same. Us Asians can be even better than them.”
Perhaps most impressive is that Sporting’s only Asian on the roster is from bustling Hong Kong, a city that tends to mould its new generation in the corporate world above all else. Ng said his parents were open to it all – his father even buying a new car due to his extraordinary height.