Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC set sight on Thai city of Buriram as venue for AFC Champions League group confirmed
- With all sport in Hong Kong having been suspended since January, Kitchee were sent players to Bangkok to prepare for their Champions League group matches
- Kitchee play their first match in group J against Chiangrai United of Thailand on April 16
After shifting their training camp to Bangkok last month, Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC will head to the Northern Thai city of Buriram for their AFC Champions League group matches.
The Asian Football Confederation confirmed all Champions League Group J matches will be hosted in Buriram, and played from April 16 to May 1.
The group J matches also feature China’s Shanghai Port, Vissel Kobe of Japan and Chiangrai United from Thailand. Group F will also be staged in Buriram, while Group G will be held in Bangkok. Ho Chi Minh and Johor Baharu will host Group H and Group I ties, respectively.
Saudi Arabia were previously confirmed as hosts for all five groups in the western half of the competition. Widespread disruptions as a result of Covid-19 however, forced a rethink and groups have seen their travel schedules significantly limited.
With strict Covid-19 restrictions at home, Kitchee last month sent all players to Bangkok to prepare for their Asian Champions League group matches. The city’s surge in Covid-19 cases has had a devastating effect on local sports, with the domestic football season abandoned altogether.
Kitchee play their first match in group J against Chiangrai United of Thailand on April 16, and Chu Chi-kwong, their director of football, said the team had already lost valuable time in preparing for the region’s top club competition.
Meanwhile the club have announced Yeung Ching Kwong has joined the Kitchee Academy as senior coach. Yeung’s main responsibility is to assist in coaching and development, in addition to the youth teams in next season’s elite youth competitions.
Yeung began his professional football career at Kitchee in 1993. After hanging up his boots, he became the head coach of several HKPL teams, as well as the assistant coach and U23 head coach of Meizhou Hakka from China League 1. He currently holds an AFC A licence.
Ken Ng, president of Kitchee Sports Club, said his appointment would strengthen the foundation of the Academy.
“Quality coaching determines the success in youth development. Coaching development is a key aspect on our player development agenda. It is my hope that the Academy will become a source of both youth players and coaches to Hong Kong football,” he said.
