‘We look like we’re moving backwards’: how Hong Kong soccer has struggled since its banishment as an elite sport

Banished from Hong Kong’s elite sports structure in 1997 for underperforming, the world’s most popular game has made such insignificant progress it appears to be going backwards.

The decision to exclude soccer from the Hong Kong Sports Institute 20 years ago has had a far-reaching impact on soccer development – or the lack of it, say players and coaches.

“I can’t say Hong Kong soccer has made no progress in the years since the handover, but the progress is so insignificant that when compared to many of our neighbours, we look like we’re moving backwards while the others are making big steps forward,” says former Hong Kong team captain Chan Wai-ho.

“The government has invested a lot more money in soccer in recent years but unfortunately the clubs have never benefited.”

Former Hong Kong team coach Kwok Ka-ming, who was in charge of the soccer programme at the time of the handover, said they were cast out of the elite academy for failing to produce results compared with other sports.