Hong Kong Premier League back to eight teams next season as FA sets up new under-23 side
- A HK$3.5 million budget has been set aside for the new team with national under-23 team coach Cheung Kin-fung to take charge
- Five over-aged players will be allowed but only a maximum of three can play in any given match
The Hong Kong Football Association will form an under-23 team to join the Premier League next season following the withdrawals of Happy Valley and Pegasus.
The decision was made at a special board meeting at the FA’s Ho Man Tin headquarters on Thursday. The new youth team will mean there will be eight teams again in next season’s top flight despite the withdrawal of the two clubs in the close season.
“We have set aside a budget of around HK$3.5 million and one of the board of directors will run the new team under a registered company,” said association chairman Pui Kwan-kay. “We will apply for the club license once we have confirmed more details of the new team.
“The decision will make the Premier League situation better with eight teams in the league and at the same time provide more playing opportunities for our upcoming players.”
It is believed Cheung Kin-fung, the under-23 national coach, will take charge of the new team, which will also feature five over-aged players, although only a maximum of three will be allowed to feature in any given match.