Better late than never for Finnish superstar
Jari Litmanen is set for the Soccer Sevens - 15 years after his Hong Kong debut was washed out
Finnish superstar Jari Litmanen will finally make his Hong Kong debut tonight - 15 years late.
The evergreen striker will appear for the Aegon Ajax All-Stars on the opening night of the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens at Hong Kong Football Club.
"I was here with Ajax 15 years ago when we were supposed to play a tour match," he recalled. "It was beautiful weather for four or five days, but then on the last day there was a huge storm, so we couldn't play.
"The ironic thing was, I was due to fly out immediately after the game, before the rest of the team, as I was needed in Finland to play for the national team. But in the end, the match was cancelled. So now I will finally get to play in Hong Kong - hopefully."
Litmanen could be forgiven for thinking history was repeating itself when he and his teammates landed in Hong Kong on Wednesday immediately after the black rainstorm warning that battered the city. But sunshine greeted the players yesterday when they held their first training session at HKFC.
At 42, Litmanen is still enjoying his soccer after a glittering 25-year career in which he earned 137 caps for Finland, won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and played for European giants Barcelona and Liverpool.
