‘I’ve not told my parents’ – meet a Hong Kong fan making the trip of a lifetime to watch his team play in North Korea
Hongkonger ‘ecstatic’ to be going to the game in Pyongyang even if it is the ‘riskiest place’ he’s travelled for football
The Post spoke to Heilong via WeChat from Pyeongyang after arriving there from Beijing.
He is the only Hongkonger on the Koryo Tours package and one of the few from the city making the trip to watch Tuesday night’s game in the Kim Il-sung Stadium, where a crowd of 50,000 are expected to be backing the home team.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic to be in North Korea supporting Hong Kong while I’m here,” he said. “At the same time it is going to be a bit surreal, potentially I’m gonna be the only fan supporting Hong Kong. But I’m hoping I’m going to make it count.”
He knows he is up against it, though.
“I’m expecting a good turn out, a strong patriotic support from the home fans.”
So was it the lure of seeing Hong Kong qualify for next year’s Asian Cup or the chance to visit North Korea that was a bigger factor in taking the trip?
With so much suspicion and misunderstanding of the country outside of North Korea what do people think of him going there to watch a match?
“My close friends and my wife think it is a great idea coming over seeing this, particularly this part of the world.
“However, I have not told my parents. I’m not really sure if they are keen on me coming here but I’ve taken the plunge and come over anyhow.”
“I did ask a number of people if they would come along with me but unfortunately I am coming along myself.”
So is this the type of thing he does all the time?
“Absolutely not. This is probably the riskiest place I have ever been to a match.
“The only other place that I could really remember that was slightly risky and maybe a bit left field was going through Romania and seeing Transylvania.
The question is will this once in a lifetime game see victory for the visitors?
“To be honest I think it’s going to be tough for Hong Kong to win this game.
“We met them on the plane. They were in good spirits and really focused on their way to travel. They were also at our hotel.”
Having seen the team in build-up to the game, how does he see it going?
“I think the likely score is going to be 3-1 North Korea.
“Putting Hong Kong in a bit of trouble right at the start of the game with home advantage and then over 90 minutes overpowering Hong Kong.”
The Hong Kong teamtalk should be easy though: Go out and do it for the fan.”