Lunar New Year Cup: Fernando Torres and Graziano Pelle confirmed to play in Hong Kong showpiece

The two are among several foreign stars to confirm their participation in promotional video

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Sagan Tosu’s Fernando Torres confirms he will play in the Lunar New Year Cup in Hong Kong.

Published: 7:00pm, 23 Jan 2019Updated: 10:23pm, 23 Jan 2019

Overseas teams confirmed the participation of their top players in the forthcoming Lunar New Year Cup headed by Fernando Torres of Sagan Tosu according to tournament organisers on Wednesday.

A video featuring the former Spain international and his teammate Hideto Takahashi showed the two Tosu players both saying they were looking forward to the Hong Kong tournament, which takes place on the Chinese New Year’s Day on February 5 and February 7 at Hong Kong Stadium.

Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng also featured two of their foreign players in former Italy international Graziano Pelle and Carlos Gilberto of Brazil in the footage. Centre half Gilberto even spoke in Cantonese to say “kung hei fat choy” to fans.

Pegasus boss Steven Lo Kit-sing of the organisers said the footage proved the overseas teams would bring their top players to Hong Kong and that they were taking the tournament very seriously.

“This will be an exciting tournament that the fans should not miss,” Lo said. “We want to bring a good environment in the beginning of the Chinese New Year showing football always plays an important role in the community.”