Hong Kong director confident new initiative will plug ‘big gap’ harming local talent
John Morling confident talent is emerging for city’s representative team, but says youth sides will not copy coach Westwood’s playing formula
The newly established HKPL Under-22 League will stop disenchanted young talents abandoning football, according to the man charged with overseeing player development in the city.
John Morling, technical director of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), identified a “big gap to plug” between youth and senior football when he was appointed back in March. Until this season, U18 graduates were starved of football unless they gained first-team recognition. Ellison Tsang Yi-hang and Kyle Lau Ka-kiu, both members of Hong Kong’s Asian Games semi-final team last year, quit the city to study overseas.
The U22 league, which got under way in October and features teams from eight Premier League clubs, has also provided a competitive outlet for over-aged players needing action.
“When the young players get to play with or against senior players they learn more, and the league’s been very competitive,” Morling told the Post.
“[Previously] young players not quite at senior level weren’t getting game time. Now, if a young player is on the bench [for the first team] the manager is more likely to use him, because he’s match ready.
“Hopefully, this will make a big difference in keeping players in football and in Hong Kong.”
