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Paul McNamara

Alex Jojo said local Premier League footballers were united in wanting a Hong Kong club to enter mainland Chinese competitions, as he prepared to play across the border in the annual Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup.
Defender Jojo, one of six senior players in a primarily under-23 Hong Kong squad for Wednesday’s first leg in Guangzhou, could soon become the latest prominent figure to leave Eastern, where he is on a season’s loan from Swedish team IK Oddevold.
The Post has been told the 25-year-old had received an attractive offer from a Chinese Super League club.
Jojo acknowledged that it had been “really tough” for Eastern to lose young Hong Kong pair Jesse Yu Joy-yin and Ng Yu-hei to China League One clubs this month.
Before playing on the mainland this week, however, he said he hoped one of the city’s leading clubs could become a Chinese league fixture.
“The Hong Kong league is not improving and I think the best way for more local players to compete [with quality opponents] is for a team to join the Chinese league,” Jojo said.

“Probably they should start in China League One. You have proper home-and-away games, proper fans and 30 games a season.
“All the players in this league are hoping for that. You don’t feel stretched here, but in mainland China you face top foreign players every week. I hope it happens before the end of my career.”
Jojo, who was a key figure in the Hong Kong under-23s’ Asian Games semi-final campaign in 2023, has three senior caps after a full debut in September.
He said his ongoing wait for a first starting opportunity was “not frustrating at all, because if I play one minute or 90, representing Hong Kong is an honour for me”.
Able to play anywhere across the back four, Jojo is set to feature in Guangdong as the second oldest of eight defenders in a callow 23-man squad. Jojo has made 16 appearances for Eastern this season, after having only three substitute outings during eight months in Sweden.
“I’m grateful to [head coach] Ashley Westwood for continuing to call me up,” Jojo said. “It’ll be a privilege to play, and the match will be good for us.
“The relentlessness of playing three games in a week is such a good feeling. For Hong Kong players to develop, we need more of it. It’s frustrating knowing I could have had that in Sweden, because regular football is so important for your development, but I can only look forward now.”
Jojo’s Eastern teammates Anson Wong Ho-chun and Timmy Ma Hei-wai are in contention to face Guangdong at the 18,000-capacity Yuexiushan Stadium.

“We have missed the Timmy of last season, but we have given him the confidence to keep playing and he is going to be a very important player for Hong Kong,” Roberto Losada, the Eastern boss, said.
Losada had no qualms over releasing players for the Guangdong match, despite next Saturday’s opponents, Kitchee, having no one in the squad. A new squad will be chosen for next Wednesday’s second leg at Hong Kong Stadium.
“Every time Hong Kong need help, we will help – it is our duty,” said Losada, whose backup keeper Chung Hoi-man is also with the city team this week.
“What the other clubs do is not our concern. [Players going away] might affect my team, but if we lose against Kitchee, as long as we play our football, it is no problem.”


Hong Kong coach says modern coaching set-up can help bid for 2034 World Cup qualification

Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup: mainlanders saved by soft penalty in Guangzhou leg

Hong Kong footballers ‘hoping’ a Premier League club joins mainland China competition

Hong Kong football boss Eric Fok open to legalising gambling

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong’s Alex Jojo (left) playing against Uzbekistan at the Asian Games in 2023. Photo: Dickson Lee

Jesse Yu (right) in action during last year’s home Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup clash. Photo: Elson Li

Anson Wong (No 8) playing against Uzbekistan at the Asian Games in 2023. Photo: Dickson Lee

2034 Fifa World Cup still Hong Kong’s goal, Kai Tak can boost interest: Eric Fok Q&A

Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground will get regular use as a venue for Hong Kong Premier League football. Photo: Sam Tsang

HKFA chairman Eric Fok said creating a clear career path for young players was vital for the city. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The FA has sounded out local clubs about using Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground as a home stadium. Photo: POOL

Hong Kong football chief Eric Fok open to legalising gambling, vows to punish match-fixers

Eric Fok said the HKFA had to consider the overall impact of allowing gambling on society. Photo: Shutterstock

HKFA chairman Eric Fok said legalising gambling was “just in the discussion phase”. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

ICAC officials brief media over the arrests of 12 players and coaches for alleged match fixing. Photo: May Tse

Sport

Football

Hong Kong

Alex Jojo, who is set to feature in Wednesday’s Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup first leg, could be poised for a transfer to Chinese Super League


Alex Jojo, who is set to feature in Wednesday’s Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup first leg, could be poised for a transfer to Chinese Super League.


Chinese Super League