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Paul McNamara

Hong Kong’s footballers have been contending with inadequate training facilities and stifling temperatures ahead of their Fifa World Cup qualifier in Turkmenistan on Tuesday night.
Barely 24 hours after slugging out a high-intensity contest with Iran last Thursday, Wolfgang Luisser’s squad undertook an epic 19-hour journey to reach the Central Asian country, where they will aim for Hong Kong’s first World Cup away win since November 2015.
Luisser, the interim head coach, has been leaning on the sports psychology certificate he obtained back in 2005, as much as his full complement of Uefa coaching qualifications, to rouse a weary squad.
“I had some individual talks with players at the airport, on the plane and on the bus,” Luisser told the Post.
“[To create] good mood and energy, our recovery session [after arriving] had lots of fun elements. We had some competition among three teams – all the players liked it and had fun.

“It was important to have a good vibe after the long journey.”
The Hong Kong party was delayed after arrival in Ashgabat, the Turkmenistan capital. Everyone was required to take a Covid test, while there was a one-hour wait for visa clearance.
Luisser and his players encountered a sense of déjà vu when they trained on Saturday. Before Hong Kong’s opening group fixture, in Iran in November, former head coach Jorn Andersen blasted the hosts for “offering us a training field where we could not play football … that is no respect”.
Hong Kong will meet Turkmenistan on artificial turf at the 20,000-capacity Ashgabat Stadium. For practice, however, the visitors were supplied with “a pitch that is not nice”, Luisser said.
“It is artificial, but old generation, so very hard underfoot, it is hard for the players to adapt,” Luisser added. “Hopefully, at the stadium, it will be better.”

Daytime temperatures in Turkmenistan have climbed above 40 degrees, and scarcely dipped in time for Hong Kong’s 6pm training sessions. It is expected to be around 38 degrees when the game kicks off at 8pm local time (11pm HK) on Tuesday.
“The heat is our first opponent, then Turkmenistan,” Luisser said. “I have told the players we are here to take three points back to Hong Kong. It will be hard, with the artificial turf and temperatures, but we drew the home match [2-2, in November], and had a big chance to score at the end.
“If we bring our energy level and intensity, and stick to our game plan, it is possible we can beat Turkmenistan.”
Hong Kong and Turkmenistan each have one point from five matches, after both sides lost home and away to Iran and Uzbekistan.

Tuesday’s hosts boast a marginally better goal difference, however, meaning that to avoid the wooden spoon Hong Kong must win away in the World Cup for the first time since Paulinho’s penalty beat Maldives almost nine years ago.
There was a slight boost for Luisser when the unspecified “visa issues” that initially prevented goalkeeper Chan Ka-ho from travelling were resolved.
Chan is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench, however. Austrian Luisser, who had no comment on the visa problems that left assistant coaches Szeto Man-chun and Roberto Losada grounded in Hong Kong, reported a clean bill of health among the 22-man squad.
“There is a good vibe in the team, and hopefully we can show this on the pitch,” Luisser said.
“The hotel is very nice, each player has their own room, so they can sleep with no distractions. The city is very modern, with a mix of old and new buildings, but it is so hot that nobody is interested in sightseeing. We only leave the hotel for training sessions.”


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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

World Cup: Hong Kong coach Luisser blasts training facilities ahead of Turkmenistan clash

With temperatures climbing above 40 degrees, Hong Kong’s players are leaving their hotel only for training sessions. Photo: HKFA

Austrian Luisser took temporary charge following the resignation of Jorn Andersen last month. Photo: HKFA

Michael Udebuluzor fends off Philip Chan, as Hong Kong prepare for their meeting with Turkmenistan. Photo: HKFA

Luisser is aiming to maintain high spirits among his Hong Kong squad in boiling Ashgabat. Photo: HKFA

Hong Kong interim football coach Wolfgang Luisser laments ‘not good’ match-fixing news, surprised Losada added to staff

Roberto Losada joined the Hong Kong representative team staff this week. Photo: Eastern FC

Eric Fok broke the news of Roberto Losada’s appointment at Saturday’s FA Cup final. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong will play on home soil for the first time since a World Cup loss to Uzbekistan in March. Photo: Elson Li

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Several prominent members of Hong Kong football clubs have denied the game in the city has a corruption problem. Photo: Shutterstock

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The former HKFA CEO Mark Sutcliffe (right) believes match-fixing is ‘endemic’ in Hong Kong football. Photo: HKJC

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Hong Kong’s Philip Chan Siu-kwan appeals to the referee on a night when officialdom did not favour the hosts. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Taremi, who scored a hat-trick on Thursday, anticipated a bright future for Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Fans respond as the home team test higher-ranked Iran at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Fans unfurl a banner to thank Jorn Andersen, the former head coach. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sport

Football

Hong Kong must beat Turkmenistan to avoid finishing bottom of Fifa World Cup qualification Group E


Hong Kong players dealing with scorching heat and inadequate training facilities before bid for team’s first World Cup away win since November 2015.


Fifa World Cup 2026

Uzbekistan

Fifa World Cup