The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

For Hong Kong to ever make it to the Fifa World Cup, local heroes need more of our cheers

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Hong Kong soccer fans follow hot ticket events like the World Cup, like this match broadcast at a Tseung Kwan O mall on June 14, but may be less familiar with local soccer players. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 1:04pm, 12 Aug 2018Updated: 1:04pm, 12 Aug 2018

I refer to Anson Chan’s letter of July 22, on how China can realise its World Cup dreams (“To take China to the Fifa World Cup, focus on teen exports, not imports”). But what about Hong Kong? How can Hong Kong rise to the World Cup group stage?

First, we need greater local support. Most Hongkongers only become “avid football fans” during hot-ticket events like the World Cup. I saw an intriguing street interview on Facebook, which tested pedestrians on their knowledge of local football. Most respondents could only name some famous Hong Kong football clubs, like Kitchee and Eastern, and struggled to name any local footballer.

You seldom hear people saying they support a Hong Kong team. For them, it is about the big names, the giants of world football. Never mind financial support, the cheers of our own people can make such a difference. Public support can be our strongest driving force.

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Besides, tactics and attack styles in football change all the time. Hong Kong only has one domestic professional football league and this is not enough to train footballers.