Hong Kong Premier League: North District to join top flight for first time despite finishing third in First Division
- Top two clubs, Central & Western, and EnGenis Kowloon City, decline opportunity to move up a level
- Club chairman Joe Chu says they plan to invest HK$6 million to HK$7 million in maiden season
North District will play in the Hong Kong Premier League for the first time next season, club chairman Joe Chu Ho-yin said on Friday, despite finishing third in the First Division.
With top two sides Central & Western, and EnGenis Kowloon City, both declining to move up a level, District grabbed the opportunity to make their debut in the city’s top flight.
Chu said the chance to play Premier League football had come as a surprise, because before a late surge his team had been in the middle of the table.
“The top two have rejected the promotion offer and we were fortunate to secure commercial sponsors to support the team,” he said.
The chairman said his side’s only ambition at the start would be to provide “more opportunities to the young generation so that they may become stars of the future for Hong Kong”.
“Also, we want to attract more fans from the district to support us and playing in the top tier Premier League will certainly be a good reason,” he added.
Chu said they had set aside a budget of between HK$6 million and HK$7 million, similar to other district teams, and would see how they performed in the first two seasons before setting more ambitious goals.
