Hong Kong Premier League given the green light to use public facilities for training as pandemic situation eases
- Clubs must follow strict hygiene requirements including having Covid-19 testing for all players
- The Football Association hopes to resume the remaining season after a two-week training period
The Hong Kong Football Association has been given the green light by the government to use public venues for club training this weekend, paving the way for the restart of the season in two weeks’ time.
Although the government has yet to reopen public football pitches as a result of the latest round of pandemic control measures, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has agreed to open four venues for Premier League club training, provided the clubs follow strict hygiene requirements.
Those venues include Jockey Club Kitchee Centre (for Kitchee), Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre (for Eastern Long Lions and Lee Man), Kowloon Bay Park (for Happy Valley and R&F) and Aberdeen Sports Ground (for KC Southern).
“This is a good news as we can now plan for the restart of the season,” said association chairman Pui Kwan-kay. “We would advise the clubs to follow the hygiene requirements and if everything goes to plan, we can go ahead with the remaining season in mid September.
“We know the pandemic [situation] cannot end overnight and we may have to live with it for a long time. As the pandemic situation seems to be easing, we can gradually restore our normal every day life including sports. Football is a professional game in Hong Kong which involves the livelihood of many people. We are glad the government acknowledges this and are allowing us to return to normality.”