Can move to mainland China change Hong Kong attitudes? Footballer Shinichi Chan hopes so
- Dream switch to Chinese Super League title chasers Shanghai Shenhua can ‘give parents and young players the dream of professional football’
Shinichi Chan hopes his dream move to Shanghai Shenhua goes some way to convincing sceptical Hongkongers that sport is more than just a hobby, and can be a career too.
Athletic pursuits in the city are traditionally relegated to secondary concerns, at best, as parents prioritise their children’s education and other activities.
The 21-year-old Chan has already played in Spain, where he received guidance from boss Unai Emery, who now coaches Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
But after swapping Kitchee for Chinese Super League (CSL) title challengers Shenhua, Chan said he knew he could not afford to “mess up” the opportunity to play at a higher level.
Chan is one of six Hongkongers playing in the top flight in mainland China, and said he hoped the number of those heading across the border would draw “more attention and sponsorship for the Hong Kong team, and for the local game”.
“In Hong Kong, no one thinks being an athlete is a job, it is just a hobby,” he said. “Hopefully, having more players overseas will strengthen the representative team, and let people know it is possible to play football for a living.
