The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Teenage international Ng Yu-hei urged to ‘get out of Hong Kong’ to fulfil vast potential

Eastern go to Philippine side Kaya-Iloilo on Thursday seeking their first victory in this season’s AFC Champions League Two competition

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Eastern’s 18-year-old forward Ng Yu-hei has skills that separate already separate him from most of his peers. Photo: Handout

Paul McNamara

Published: 5:30pm, 22 Oct 2024Updated: 7:16pm, 22 Oct 2024

Eastern head coach Roberto Losada says his gifted teenage forward Ng Yu-hei “has to get out of Hong Kong” to fulfil his vast potential.

Ng, who has two Hong Kong caps following a debut last month, is poised for his first AFC Champions League Two start when Eastern face Kaya-Iloilo in the Philippines on Thursday.

Losada’s team lost their opening two matches against formidable opposition in Sydney FC and Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Hong Kong’s coach of the year in each of the past two seasons, the Spaniard said his side were “on the same level” as Kaya, but insisted “what we do [in Hong Kong] is not enough to compete with these [Champions League] teams”.

There is no questioning Ng’s capacity to frighten seasoned defenders, however. The 18-year-old’s close control, dribbling ability and easy movement already separate him from the overwhelming majority of his compatriots.

Dani Almazan (left) tries to stave off a Sydney attack during Eastern’s opening ACL 2 match. Photo: EPA-EFE

And Losada, who made more than 100 La Liga appearances in a fine playing career, urged wispy left-winger Ng to accelerate his development away from his home city.