As women's footballers juggle jobs, does Hong Kong need professional league?
Ranked 80th in the world, the city's team are braced for a tough qualifying task, with only the winners of a group featuring Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Cambodia set to make it to the 12-team tournament in Australia.
Coach Ricardo Rambo leads his side away to world No 118s Cambodia on Sunday, before meeting the fast-improving Saudis, ranked 165th, on Wednesday next week.
Then the real test will come against the 41st-ranked Philippines a week on Saturday.
But if that were not challenging enough, as boss of a part-time squad, Rambo has faced issues of player fatigue and, previously, withdrawals because of work commitments. The team's weekday training sessions in Hong Kong typically take place from 8 to 10pm.
Hong Kong's players work on their strength and conditioning last Sunday. Photo: Sun Yeung
'We have to challenge them, but there needs to be a balance,' Rambo said. 'They've been working and are tired – it's no good shouting. We need to understand the players and take an individual approach.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
34 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Saudi Super Cup: Ronaldo fever strikes again in Hong Kong
Thousands of football fans descended on Hong Kong Stadium hours before Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr took on Al-Ittihad in the first semi-final of the Saudi Super Cup on August 19, 2025.
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
US Masters champion Rory McIlroy mania inspiring Macau Open home charge
Watching Rory McIlroy being roared on by his army of home fans at the Open Championship has awakened a desire in Kelvin Ngai Si to win in front of his own supporters at this year's SJM Macau Open. Advertisement After completing his career grand slam at the US Masters in April, Northern Ireland's McIlroy received fervent backing for last month's Open at Royal Portrush, where he finished in a tie for seventh. And Macau's Si, who is making his Asian Tour debut this year, is hoping for a taste of the adulation heaped on the world No 2 when his home tournament gets under way on October 16. 'This ranks really high in my targets for the year,' Si said. 'I was watching The Open and saw Rory have home fans really cheering him on, and I really want to win in front of a home crowd.' Si finished in a share of 65th alongside South Africa's David Meyers in last year's tournament, but on the same Macau Golf and Country Club course where it is staged, he tied for 19th in this year's International Series Macau. Rattanon Wannasrichan poses with his trophy after winning the 2024 Macau Open. Photo: Handout 'It was important that I proved to myself I could play well on the professional stage, and it gives me a lot more confidence going into the tournament in October,' Si said.
South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Saudi football's critics accused of fixating on money ahead of Super Cup semi in Hong Kong
Michel, the decorated Al-Qadsiah head coach, has accused Saudi football's detractors of ignorance ahead of his team's Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al-Ahli in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Advertisement The Spaniard, who won six La Liga titles as an exceptional midfielder for Real Madrid, said people in his homeland 'only discuss football in Saudi Arabia from a financial perspective'. Despite spending more than US$80 million following promotion to the top flight last season, and forking out around US$76 million for Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui from Atalanta this summer, Al-Qadsiah are the lowest spenders and least heralded of the four teams competing in this week's Super Cup. Referencing Al-Hilal's progress to the quarter-finals of the recent Club World Cup, Michel, said: 'They delivered a high level of performance in a big tournament, full of international players, so when people just want to talk about money it gives you the impression they are talking without proper information. 'People who have the information know Saudi teams have big potential and a high level.' New Al-Qadsiah striker Mateo Retegui enjoys scoring in a friendly against Sevilla this month. Photo: EPA Michel's impassioned words were met with applause from most Saudi journalists in the room.
