Hong Kong Football Team Faces Roster Shortage Ahead of Asian Games
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
The Hong Kong men's football team opened their training session to media on Monday (September 7) at the Football Training Centre (FTC) in Tseung Kwan O, but the squad was far from complete. Only 18 of the 23 registered players attended practice, with five players absent due to various reasons including illness, overseas commitments, and club obligations. Head coach Tsang Chiu-tat acknowledged the difficulties in preparing for the Asian Games while players balance club duties, but emphasized the team will not give up.
Key Points
- Only 18 of the 23 players attended Monday's session at the Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O, with five players absent
- Chan Guan-sheng (陳冠燊) missed training due to eye inflammation, while Qin Yuhau (秦宇灝) was with the U20 team at the Asian Cup qualifiers
- Overseas-based players Ma Xiwei (馬希偉), Wu Yuxi (吳宇㬢), and Zeng Letu (曾樂圖) will return to the squad later
- The full squad will only train together on September 15, with the team departing for Japan the following day
- Five players including Chan Guan-sheng, Chen Aoxuan, Yan Qizhuo, Guo Jinming, and Zhang Guihua will depart a day later due to league matches
Why It Matters
The limited preparation time poses a serious challenge for Hong Kong's chances against Japan, one of Asia's football powerhouses. However, coach Tsang expressed optimism, drawing inspiration from the previous Asian Games where several players went on to develop their careers abroad .
The limited preparation time poses a serious challenge for Hong Kong's chances against Japan, one of Asia's football powerhouses. However, coach Tsang expressed optimism, drawing inspiration from the previous Asian Games where several players went on to develop their careers abroad .