Clash with Soccer Sevens seen as ‘unavoidable’
Hong Kong football’s CEO has denied that an end-of-season fixture clash represents a missed opportunity, with the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens set to partially eclipse a potential final-day title decider in the city’s Premier League.
A season curtain-closer, the Soccer Sevens will take place from May 24 to 26 at Hong Kong Football Club, featuring an array of English Premier League clubs and promising its usual vibrant atmosphere.
However, the last round of Premier League fixtures falls on May 26 and boasts what is shaping up to be a nail-biting title finale between leaders Lee Man and second-placed Kitchee.
The diary clash comes with the local football association already accused of failing to promote the game adequately.
Hong Kong team player Philip Chan Siu-kwan recently said clubs “need better broadcast deals, more sponsors and more attention”, suggesting the FA “really needs to take a look at itself”. Lee Man president Norman Lee Manyan said FA officials “do not know anything about promotion”.
FA chief executive Joaquin Tam played down the impact at yesterday’s Sevens draw. “This year, we have a very tight schedule,” Tam said. “We had the Asian Cup [in January] and we also had a long training camp.
“That’s why everything is squeezed together. So in terms of this fixture, there’s not much we can do. This is the only available time. There might be some effect [on attendances], but I don’t think it would be a big one.”
At last year’s Sevens, Tai Po stunned spectators by becoming the first local side to make it to the final since Kitchee in 2014. A Hong Kong side has not won the annual invitational tournament since Kitchee beat Celtic in 2011.
“We trust the coaching staff to make the best decision for us,” Tai Po’s Marco Wong said when asked about his club’s own fixture clash. “Hopefully we’ll get a good result in the league, but at the same time we’ll be fighting here at the Sevens.”
This year’s edition includes eight teams in an inaugural women’s sevens, as well as eight in the masters section.
Seven-time winners and defending champions Aston Villa are drawn alongside Premier League rivals West Ham United, Yau Yee League Select and HKFC Captain’s Select in Group A. Yokohama F Marinos, Brighton, Hong Kong Rangers and Singapore Football Club are in Group B. Fulham and Scottish Premiership giants Rangers meet in Group C alongside HK U23 and Hong Kong Football Club.
Leicester City, champions in 2013 and 2017, take on three-time winners Newcastle United, Tai Po and Singapore Cricket Club in Group D.
Group A in the women has Sha Tin Sport Association, Soar 247 FC, Kitchee and Chelsea FC Soccer School, while HKFC, Macau, Grace Citizen and WSE are in Group B.