The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

New manager Jorn Andersen calls for ‘more confidence and power’ ahead of next month’s Asian Cup qualifiers

The head coach of Hong Kong’s national team meets his charges in training for first time since taking over last December

Andersen, who was in charge of North Korea and K-League side Incheon before his Hong Kong appointment, says he is happy with the five weeks his team has to prepare before facing Afghanistan in June

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Jorn Andersen talks to the players in their first training session at Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Published: 8:30am, 3 May 2022

New manager Jorn Andersen believed he has a squad that can win matches as Hong Kong kick-starts preparation for next month’s 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers in India.

Working with his charges at Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre on Monday for the first time since his appointment in December, Andersen tried to instil his attacking style of play to the players as Hong Kong faces Afghanistan, Cambodia and India in Kolkata in the qualification tournament in June.

“We have good players and a good team that can beat others,” said the former Norway international, who was the first foreign player to become top goalscorer with 18 goals in the Bundesliga when he played for Eintracht Frankfurt in 1990.

“The only thing I want to ask the players is to take more confidence. In the past, Hong Kong team spent 80 per cent in defence in a match and this is not my style. I want the players to play more upfront, trying to play with more confidence and with more power. They must try to win the game and not try to avoid losing the game.”

Jorn Andersen in thinking of his attacking football. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Since his appointment late last year, Anderson’s working schedule has been interrupted by the latest round of Covid-19 in Hong Kong, allowing him only to meet his players for the first time in training after more than five months.