Latest news with #AsianTour
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Man behind United's Asian tour already planning for big names to visit Hong Kong in 2026
The man who engineered Manchester United's post-season Asian tour said he was already planning to bring more big clubs to Hong Kong next year. Advertisement Paul Kam called the Premier League strugglers' visit a qualified success, after a combined 105,648 people attended games against Asean All-Stars, in Malaysia, and a select XI in Hong Kong. He did not want to comment on whether his ProEvents business recorded a profit or loss from a venture that reportedly earned money-starved United around £8 million (US$10.8 million). And despite 'thoroughly enjoying' Friday's match at Hong Kong Stadium, Kam said he would need some convincing before arranging any more end-of-season fixtures. Wedged between the climax of a 10-month campaign and the June international window, Manchester United's five-day trip attracted criticism over player welfare concerns. Advertisement A number of head coach Ruben Amorim's squad were reportedly grumpy about being ordered overseas, an impression heightened after Amad Diallo raised his middle finger at a supporter in Malaysia, then surly winger Alejandro Garnacho posted a snap from the flight home on social media, accompanied by the caption 'finally'.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Top football clubs need to repay Asian fans with value for money
A famous English football club playing in Hong Kong is always a special occasion for the city's fans, who rarely get to watch their heroes perform live. Manchester United, arguably the biggest team in the world, are usually one of the most eagerly anticipated visitors. But they arrived in the city last week under a cloud, at the end of their worst top-flight season in half a century, languishing in 15th place in the English Premier League. United secured victory on Friday, beating a battling Hong Kong select XI 3-1. But the postseason Asian tour has raised questions. The whistle-stop trip at the end of a gruelling season has been criticised amid concerns about the welfare of players facing a punishing schedule. One former footballer described it as 'mad' and a British radio pundit branded the tour 'utterly ridiculous'. Hong Kong supporters, meanwhile, still smarting from the notorious non-appearance of revered superstar Lionel Messi in the city last year, might question whether they received value for money. Ticket prices ranged from HK$1,390 to HK$2,990, significantly higher than the sum I paid to watch United play Arsenal in the premier league.
CNA
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Man United boss Amorim says it is tough to face team's angry fans around the world
HONG KONG :Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim said his team cannot hide after they were booed off in their defeat in Malaysia ahead of their friendly with Hong Kong on Friday. Three days after they concluded their worst Premier League season with a 15th-placed finish, Amorim's team kicked off their Asian tour with a 1-0 loss to ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur, with many among the 72,000 fans voicing their displeasure. "It's hard to face the fans around the world (after such a poor season)," Amorim told a press conference on Thursday. "(But) it is clear, we cannot hide. "If one thing is really important in this club, we need to face our fans in this moment, and give something to our fans around the globe. We want to do that, but sometimes it's really hard. "We were not really focused in the last game (on Wednesday), everyone can feel it. In that moment I can understand the fans and the players." Harry Maguire, Andre Onana and Diogo Dalot will not feature in Friday's match as they travelled to India instead for a club sponsor event. Amorim also ruled Luke Shaw out. Matthijs de Ligt, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee did not play in Malaysia, but the Portuguese coach gave them a clean bill of health at Hong Kong Stadium for their final match of the tour. "Of course the team is tired because we flew to Malaysia and with the jet lag we had a game in difficult conditions," Amorim said. "But we are ready to play again and are really happy to be here." Hong Kong's coach Ashley Westwood, a former United academy player, suggested that Amorim's team would have preferred post-season rest over extra games and travel. "If truth be told, no players want to do (a post-season tour), you want to recover," Westwood told reporters. "Most Manchester United players are reporting for international duty on June 2. They probably need this like a hole in the head."
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘It made me feel more calm' – Golf star says becoming an ordained monk helped him win spot in The Open at Royal Portrush
GOLF star Sadom Kaewkanjana credits becoming an ordained monk in helping him win a spot on the Open Championship. Becoming an ordained monk is a rite of passage that is common for Thai men once they turn 20. 5 5 5 5 It involves individuals in Buddhist monasticism who take vows to formally be recognised as a member of the monastic community. Duties include meditation, study of Buddhist teachings, upholding ethical precepts, and serving as spiritual leaders within the community. In 2022, Kaewkanjana took a two-week hiatus from the sport to become an ordained monk. By 2023, the Thai golfer was back in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill - but has not played on golf's biggest stage since. He said at the time: 'I was ordained because I wanted to return the greatest merit and repay my parents. 'During this time of ordination, it was of great value and experience, even though the ordination was a short period of time. 'I was cut off from the rest of the world when I was ordained, that made me feel more calm. "I was able to concentrate more, which will help me improve my game of golf.' Kaewkanjana's major championship return is now set after he won the Asian Tour's Kolon Korea Open. The 26-year-old earned his spot on the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July. Bryson DeChambeau appears to punch himself in the face repeatedly live on Sky Sports in bizarre PGA Championship moment The Kolon Korea Open is part of the Championship Qualifying Series, offering the winner a spot in golf's oldest major. It is Kaewkanjana's first individual win since the 2022 Singapore Open - which got him into the Open at St. Andrews. He said: 'It is a big honour to win this event; it's one of the biggest in the region. 'I tried to concentrate more than last three rounds, so I could do it. I'm very happy.'
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Manchester United jets off to Malaysia for exciting Asian Tour kick-off
MANCHESTER UNITED are on their way to Malaysia, embarking on a much-anticipated Asian Tour that promises to captivate their devoted supporters. Barely hours after closing out their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, the squad boarded their flights to Kuala Lumpur, eager to reconnect with their passionate fanbase. Photos of the squad's departure from the Manchester airport were posted by the club and national carrier Malaysia Airlines. The tour begins on May 28, when United take on the ASEAN All Stars at the iconic Bukit Jalil National Stadium. With a capacity of 84,000, the atmosphere is expected to be electric as fans finally get the chance to witness their football heroes in action—an opportunity not seen since the club's last visit in 2009. Beyond football, the tour carries significant commercial weight, projected to generate around £8 million (RM45.78 million) in revenue for the club according to various reports. Organised by ProEvents and backed by Snapdragon, United's kit sponsor, the trip reflects the club's commitment to strengthening their global brand while engaging with fans across Asia. Following their Malaysia fixture, United will travel to Hong Kong for a showdown at the 40,000-capacity Hong Kong Stadium on 30 May, though scheduling concerns persist as the date coincides with the local FA Cup final at Mong Kok Stadium. While post-season tours have drawn criticism for adding strain to players after gruelling domestic and international campaigns, United insist that such trips foster deeper connections with their global fanbase. Club Chief Executive Omar Berrada reiterated their significance, highlighting the financial and engagement benefits for both the club and its supporters. From Malaysia to Hong Kong, then onwards to Scandinavia and the United States, United's influence remains as strong as ever—both on and off the pitch.
