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Jonathan White

Hong Kong women’s football manager Betty Wong hopes they will not be forgotten next year when the Lunar New Year Cup is staged after being denied a showcase match at the annual tournament on Sunday.
The event was scrapped on Thursday night by the Hong Kong government over the increasing threat of the Wuhan coronavirus.
This year’s Lunar New Year Cup was to feature a game between Hong Kong’s women’s representative team and the “Stars of Future”, a mix of the under-23, under-18 and under-15s. It would have been a prelude to the main event at Mong Kok Stadium – a Hong Kong men’s team taking on a League Selection XI.
Wong would have preferred if the game did not come about because of a lack of interest from foreign men’s teams. “Now we have the men’s and we should have the women’s but not just because they can’t organise some overseas teams to come,” she said.
Lunar New Year Cup to feature local sides because of the social unrest
“It should be that we plan to have this game for women. We should have the same emphasis on promotion for men and women.”
Head coach Ricardo Rambo said he was “disappointed” the opportunity to play on this stage had been lost.
“We all feel disappointed for the girls, for the opportunity missed to enjoy a game on Chinese New Year,” he said. “Anyway, we keep positive on the work and preparation for the competitions ahead.”

While other Asian countries split funding more evenly or even forego the men’s game for the women, Hong Kong’s five strategic goals are mostly related to men’s football – with governance and “football for all” encompassing women’s football at every level.
There were “lots of questions for the women’s side” at public consultations this month, Rambo said.
China’s Shandong Luneng claim 2019 Lunar New Year Cup win after bad-tempered final against Japan’s Sagan Tosu
These ranged from the elite game to expanding grass roots participation, Wong said. She was the one answering them, just as she led the strategic plan for women’s football. There were questions on gender equality and allocation of resources. That can mean something as simple as pitches.
“Sometimes we ask for better times or better venues,” Wong said. “I asked if we could have the youth league on Friday but they said Friday is very full because the boys have the youth league, with many age groups, and they can’t get the referees.
“Usually, I think, we have a lower priority behind the boys and the men – maybe because they are more established.”

Womens football day in Hong Kong! pic.twitter.com/PORMzOxIb6
— Thorlakur Arnason (@ThorlakurA) March 3, 2019

She cites youth players having to play in Tuen Mun on Tuesday nights. There are difficulties getting there for 6.30pm and if there are two games the second kicks off at 8.30pm, meaning a late finish of 10.30pm.
The first is problematic to arrive in time to warm up and the latter often means parents won’t let their daughters out “so far and so late”. That can be less of a problem with the boys, because even if a player is not allowed there is always another to fill their place.
“You can’t compare the boys and girls sometimes,” she said. “The girls, if the team has lost two or three players they can’t play.”
‘Girls are encouraged to prioritise education over sport’: women’s football in Hong Kong
That comparison continues up to the top. “If you compare the men’s and women’s national teams, there is no comparison. Manpower, staff, resources,” Wong said.
While sympathetic to the cost to run the men’s representative team, which is made up of professionals, the pair have asked for more for the women’s game in the new strategic goals.

The Road:⚽️
Increase participation of girls and women's in Hong Kong football
Increase women's participation in Coaching courses
Increase the competitive level
Help local clubs in technical and physical aspects
help on develop youth teams U10,12,15,18

To... pic.twitter.com/fjQ14XqOZg
— Ricardo Rambo (@ricardorambo7) August 1, 2019

Hong Kong dare to dream as they look for 2034 World Cup glory
Some people with influence in the FA still think “women’s football is just like leisure, recreation”, Wong said. “We don’t want to have this thinking,” Rambo said.
They want to change that and their plan is “realistic because the gap is very close” with other Asian countries, according to Rambo.
“Our goal is 2030 to go to Asian Cup Finals,” Wong said. That’s based on the current crop of under-18, under-15 and under-12 age groups, with the focus largely on a core from the under-15s who will be 24 or 25 by then.
“We saw them improve quite a lot from tournament to tournament. What they need is more international exposure and more high-level games.”
Hong Kong ‘to become a top-tier football nation in Asia in 15 to 20 years’
Both are certain that these younger age groups will thrive because the women’s team is not far behind counterparts in Vietnam and Taiwan.
Wong wants more girls to receive coaching by expanding the grass roots but the priority is elite development, namely more international friendly matches and player welfare.

Great Evening Meeting with all coaches involved in girls and Women's football in Hong Kong. Very good feedback from all , same objectives to improve women's football. pic.twitter.com/U8HhHQAIBo
— Ricardo Rambo (@ricardorambo7) August 8, 2019

Studies can pose a similar problem. “When they finish here, they go abroad,” Rambo said of 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds.
Wong dreams of semi-professional contracts and players working for the HKFA or clubs part-time.
“Many don’t even know we have a league,” Wong said. They actually have a senior league and a youth league but would like to add another age group to make it more even.
The cancelled Lunar New Year Cup is a missed opportunity for exposure.


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Lunar New Year Cup

Don’t forget us next year: women’s football’s plea after Hong Kong Lunar New Year Cup scrapped

China's Tang Jiali vies for the ball with Taiwan’s Chang Chi-lan during the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship. Photo: AFP

(L-R): Aspring footballer Annabel Yue and Betty Wong Yeuk-ling, the women's football manager of Hong Kong Football Association, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O. 30SEP19 SCMP / David Wong

Lunar New Year Cup set for a boost after increased funding makes HK$10 million available to attract bigger clubs

China’s Shandong Luneng claimed the 2019 Lunar New Year Cup after defeating Sagan Tosu from Japan at the Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Dickson Lee

Pui Kwan-kay (right) and sports commissioner Yeung Tak-keung

Hong Kong Lunar New Year Cup.

Lunar New Year Cup: China’s Shandong Luneng claim win after bad-tempered final against Japan’s Sagan Tosu

Shandong Luneng celebrate winning the Chinese New Year Cup 2019 against Sagan Tosu of Japan at Hong Kong Stadium. Photos: Dickson Lee

Fernando Torres (front) photographed at the match between Sagan Tosu (JPN) and Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (CHN) at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 07FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Fernando Torres (right) of Sagan Tosu (JPN), in action during the final match of the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup 2019 against Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (CHN), at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 07FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Match between Sagan Tosu (JPN) and Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (CHN) at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 07FEB19 SCMP / Dickson Lee

Sport

Hong Kong


Showcase game between a representative team and youth side cancelled because of Wuhan coronavirus but HKFA’s Betty Wong wants it part of annual plan
Head coach Ricardo Rambo wants to change thinking that women’s game is mere recreation as they aim for AFC finals in 2030



Lunar New Year Cup showcase game cancelled because of Wuhan coronavirus but HKFA’s Betty Wong wants annual game, while Ricardo Rambo wants to change thinking that women’s game is mere recreation.


The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Fifa Women's World Cup

Don’t forget us next year: women’s football’s plea after Hong Kong Lunar New Year Cup scrapped

Showcase game between a representative team and youth side cancelled because of Wuhan coronavirus but HKFA’s Betty Wong wants it part of annual plan Head coach Ricardo Rambo wants to change thinking that women’s game is mere recreation as they aim for AFC finals in 2030

Showcase game between a representative team and youth side cancelled because of Wuhan coronavirus but HKFA’s Betty Wong wants it part of annual plan

Head coach Ricardo Rambo wants to change thinking that women’s game is mere recreation as they aim for AFC finals in 2030