2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> HK Football> Content
Friday, November 20, 2020, 18:02
New Hong Kong Premier League season finally kicks off
By Tobias Zuser
Friday, November 20, 2020, 18:02 By Tobias Zuser

Pegasus celebrated a 4-2 victory over Rangers in the Sapling Cup. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

Nearly three months behind the usual schedule, the Hong Kong Premier League is finally scheduled to kick off on Nov 21, with only eight clubs competing in the city’s top-tier championship this season, following the retreat of R&F, Yuen Long, and Tai Po.  

Among these teams, defending champions Kitchee, as well as Eastern and Lee Man, are widely considered to be main contenders for trophies – with Southern and Happy Valley showing some underdog qualities. Meanwhile, Pegasus, Rangers, and newcomers Resources Capital are expected to linger in the bottom half – with relegation most likely being suspended next year due to the low number of clubs.

Two of the players to watch out for this season are Kitchee’s Matthew Orr and Happy Valley’s new Nigerian striker Robert Odu. Orr has had an impressive start into the season, scoring two hat-tricks in the Sapling Cup group stage, both against Rangers. After competing for varsity teams in the USA, the now 23-year-old returned to Hong Kong at the end of last year, making his debut for Kitchee in February 2020. Meanwhile, Odu has already scored a hat-trick as well in Happy Valley’s recent 6-1 win over Resources Capital. The 21-year-old Nigerian, who is also known by his nickname “Jaguar”, is held in high regard by many fans and he could add the previously missing striking power to the Greens this year. Odu is joined by his compatriot Razaq Adegbite, who also signed a one-year contract with Happy Valley.

While Pegasus have failed to convince the local football community with their Sapling Cup performances, chairman Steven Lo hopes that their four new Brazilian players would make them more competitive in the coming months: Bernardo, Marquinhos, Nilson, and Junior Goiano. The latter scored two goals in his debut on Nov 14, with Nilson adding another one to Pegasus’ 4-2 win over Rangers.

Last but not least, on Thursday afternoon, Eastern announced the signing of former Kitchee midfielder Jared Lum. The Australian was supposed to join R&F this season, but the Guangzhou side decided to withdraw at the very last moment. It is yet to see if some of Lum’s talented teammates, such as Tsui Wang-kit, Matt Lam, Sean Tse, and Roberto Affonso, will find a club in the next few days. For Eastern, Lum’s transfer could give a crucial boost to their title ambitions, as they have to start the season without winger Fernando, who is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.  

After five rounds of Sapling Cup matches, the coming weekend finally marks the official start of the Premier League.

EASTERN vs RESOURCES CAPITAL, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Nov 21, 3 pm

So far, the two teams have met each other once in the Sapling Cup, which was a very one-sided affair for the Blues. A different outcome this time seems very unlikely though. With the exception of Fernando, Eastern have the full squad at their disposal, including strikers Sandro and Lucas Silva. However, the defence is still prone to errors, as the very entertaining 3-3 draw with Southern last weekend proved, with the Aberdeeners equalizing twice in the dying minutes of the match. Resources Capital are going with humble ambitions into this competition, as they will need some time to adjust to Hong Kong’s top-tier football environment.

Southern District are slowly finding back to their previous form. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

PEGASUS vs SOUTHERN, Premier League, Yuen Long Stadium, Nov 21, 5:30 pm

On Saturday afternoon, Pegasus make their first proper appearance in their newly adopted home at Yuen Long Stadium, the same location where the club started its endeavours more than a decade ago. The new Brazilians should provide some hope to Pegasus fans, as the squad seemed to leave quite some room for improvement at the start of the season. Southern District may also tone down their expectations for this season. Some last-minute signings are still expected, including a much-needed striker. Surprisingly, though, the club has let go of midfielder Philip Chan Siu-kwan.

RANGERS vs HAPPY VALLEY, Premier League, Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, Nov 22, 3 pm

On Sunday afternoon, Rangers and Happy Valley will lock horns in Wong Tai Sin. Given the Sapling Cup performances, the Greens have seemingly stepped up their game over the long season break and they could send a strong signal in the first match that they do not want to have anything to do with the bottom this season and that they are ready to grow into a proper Premier League contender. The new signings have been promising, and finishing as runners-up in their Sapling Cup group, Happy Valley have already qualified for the semi-finals next year. However, it would always be a mistake to underestimate Rangers. Lee Man may have just done that last Wednesday, when they were just a few seconds away from victory, would it not have been for Lam Hok-hei, who scored a late equalizer in added time.

Nigerian striker Robert Odu scored a hat-trick for Happy Valley last weekend. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

KITCHEE vs LEE MAN, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Nov 22, 5:30 pm

Last but not least, Kitchee and Lee Man will square off in what can be considered the most anticipated match-up of the first Premier League round. Both teams had equally good performances in the Sapling Cup and are on track to qualify for the semi-finals, as long as they win their respective last group stage matches in January. Kitchee have undergone a major transformation last year, with long-standing veterans leaving the club and youngsters taking up a much bigger role in the first team. Players such as Matthew Orr, Chan Shinichi, Sebastian Buddle, Barak Braunshtain, Mark Swainston, and Clement Benhaddouche have become regular starters in the Sapling Cup and will surely get more opportunities in the league as well. Meanwhile, Lee Man have been counting on stability, with Ngan Lok-fung, Michael N’dri, Jonatan Acosta, and Leong Ka-hang becoming key players for the team’s success. They have also just signed a contract with former La Liga centre-back Jose Angel, who had a brief stint at Eastern in 2019.


Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !