Latest news with #AshleyWestwood
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong stalwart Tan Chun-lok reveals gains from England stint, wants another shot
Midfield enforcer Tan Chun-lok has revealed how 3½ years in England toughened him physically and mentally, and the Kitchee player is eager for another shot at playing in Europe or on mainland China. After relocating to Brooke House Football Academy in 2009, Tan soon signed for Peterborough United. In summer 2011, he joined Northampton Town, around the same time as current Hong Kong head coach Ashley Westwood arrived as a first-team player. 'England helped me build my personality; it was my first time away from home and I grew as a person,' said Tan, who has 55 Hong Kong caps. 'It was hard at the start. I was used to my parents doing things for me, but I had to do my laundry, make sure I ate well, and manage my schedule. In England, you have so much freedom; I learned how to behave as a professional.' On the field, Tan encountered a 'really tough style'. 'I improved my aerial ability and my tackling in 50-50s, where people go in really hard,' he said. 'When I came back to Hong Kong, I was still young, but I had no fear of the foreign players or their physicality.'
RTHK
14-07-2025
- Sport
- RTHK
SAR gear up for East Asian championship finale
SAR gear up for East Asian championship finale Ashley Westwood says he wants to win every match. Photo courtesy of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China Leon Jones said he's ready to play his third international game in eight days. Photo courtesy of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China Hong Kong, China will be looking for a breakthrough at an East Asian football tournament when they face the national team on Tuesday. The SAR have lost all their matches at the EAFF E-1 Championship since it began in 2003. This year, both the SAR and the national teams lost to hosts South Korea and Japan and will be battling for third place. The last time the two teams played each other, Hong Kong, China, defeated the national team 2-1 in a closed-door friendly on New Year's Day last year when the sides were preparing for the Asian Cup. "Of course we want to make history, but anybody who knows me knows that I want to win every single game I play," head coach Ashley Westwood said. "It makes no difference to me whether it's China, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, France, England, I don't care who we play." Westwood will be without star left-back Shinichi Chan, who was recalled by his club Shanghai Shenhua. Meanwhile, centre-back Leon Jones said he's thankful that so many Hong Kong supporters travelled to South Korea for the matches. He said the SAR team are very proud of "the sea of red" when they see the fans in the stands. Jones also said playing three matches in eight days was not a problem for him. "Obviously, most of the players in the squad have been coming back from the off-season, which is different from players from the other sides," he said. "But I feel my condition's pretty good. Playing in two 90-minute games in such a short space of time is tiring, but it's normal at this level of football." Kickoff is set for 3pm on Tuesday Hong Kong time, before South Korea face Japan at 6.24pm for the title. The Japanese only need a draw to win the tournament on goal difference.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong boss Westwood out ‘to make history' against China
Ashley Westwood said Hong Kong wanted 'to make history' when they tackle China in Seoul on Tuesday. The city team last beat their mainland rivals in a competitive fixture 40 years ago, while they have lost all four previous East Asian Football Championship clashes between the teams by an aggregate score of 8-1. Hong Kong have already lost their opening two matches in South Korea, after arriving at the tournament on a 10-match unbeaten run, but supporters have long identified the closing fixture as a golden opportunity for their side to exploit vulnerable opponents. 'We want to make history, but anyone who knows anything about me knows I want to win every game I play … whether it's China, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, France, or England, I don't care,' Westwood said. 'I understand that the fans want and need to win, but I'm always like that.' Hong Kong won a friendly against China last year, for only their third success in 23 meetings.
South China Morning Post
13-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championships: is Chan recall sign China are running scared of Hong Kong?
Hong Kong football bosses have moved to defuse a controversy that had threatened to blow up ahead of the city team's clash with China on Tuesday. With Ashley Westwood's side seeking a first win over their neighbours since 1985, rumours had surfaced that several players contracted to mainland clubs could be recalled after the team's loss to South Korea on Friday. While clubs are not obligated to release players for the East Asian Football Championship because it falls outside a Fifa window, suspicions were heightened when China manager Dejan Djurdjevic refused to confirm if any of his players were being sent back. Faced with the potential for some uncomfortable questions, the Football Association of Hong Kong China (HKFA) released a statement on Sunday that said only Shinichi Chan had left the camp in a 'pre-arranged agreement between the coaching team … and the player's club'. Chan, who plays for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua, is one of Hong Kong's best players. Dejan Djurdjevic issues final instructions before China's loss to South Korea last Monday. Photo: Xinhua On Saturday, after his team's 2-0 defeat by Japan, Djurdjevic had refused to discuss whether any of his players would be ordered back to their clubs, and initially said as China coach, 'I concentrate on our players … that's all'.
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong out to ‘impose ourselves on China'
Ashley Westwood has urged Hong Kong to go for the jugular against China when the teams renew their rivalry in Seoul on Tuesday. Advertisement Stung by a 6-1 thumping from Japan on Tuesday, head coach Westwood unfurled a more watchful strategy for his side's 2-0 defeat by South Korea in their second East Asian Football Championship fixture on Friday. The handbrake is set to come off against the Chinese, who are flattered by a world No 94 ranking on the evidence of their limp display in losing 3-0 to South Korea last week. 'Playing China, who are 94th in the world, is different from playing Korea,' Westwood said. 'We want to attack and score, we don't go many games without scoring. 'We have a good, highly qualified coaching staff, we know what we're doing, and we'll come up with something to impose ourselves on China. Advertisement 'We won't be looking to defend, defend. Part of football is coming up with a plan. Hopefully, the one for China works. If it doesn't, we'll learn another lesson.'
