Latest news with #ClementBenhaddouche
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Eastern win Hong Kong FA Cup after brilliant Noah Baffoe hat-trick downs Rangers
Noah Baffoe bagged a brilliant four-minute hat-trick as Eastern retained the Hong Kong FA Cup on Saturday, beating BC Rangers 3-1 at Mong Kok Stadium. Advertisement Leading 1-0 with 10 minutes remaining, after Lau Chi-lok's early strike, Rangers looked on course to claim the trophy for the first time since 1995. But a previously subdued Baffoe sprang to life with time running out, when he ran onto a pass behind Rangers' defence to squeeze a shot past the onrushing Oleksii Shliakotin. If that was a piece of predatory expertise from Baffoe, what the Spaniard did next was coated with genius. After gathering a pass from substitute Timmy Ma Hei-wai, Baffoe turned to guide a 25-yard chip beyond the helpless 6ft 5in goalkeeper Shliakotin. Only two more minutes had elapsed when Baffoe, crowned Hong Kong footballer of the year on Wednesday, chased down a pass over the top from Clement Benhaddouche and thumped a bouncing ball inside the left post. It was his 35th goal of the season and seventh in three FA Cup matches. Advertisement The victory for Eastern added to their success in the Senior Shield. It also secured Hong Kong's second Asian Champions League Two spot, alongside league champions Tai Po, for next season, and HK$350,000 (US$45,000) in prize money.
South China Morning Post
11-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong footballer who feared he would not walk properly after injury eyes China return
When Clement Benhaddouche was without a club in mainland China at the turn of the year, he drew strength from having previously returned to football only months after being told he had a slim chance of walking properly again. Advertisement Benhaddouche joined Eastern last month, after 1½ seasons on the mainland with Heilongjiang Ice City and then Suzhou Dongwu, in a switch that bucked the recent trend of Hong Kong players moving in the other direction. The 28-year-old, whose last campaign was marred by knee and arm injuries, said his return had not happened by choice. 'I missed almost half of last season and my options were limited,' he said. 'I was waiting to see if anything happened in the transfer window, but nothing interesting came up. I came back to Hong Kong for a break and was invited to train with Eastern.' Benhaddouche, who went to college and university in the US, had 4½ years with Kitchee before going to Heilongjiang in 2023. His performances for the northeastern club earned him a move to Suzhou for the 2024 season. Clement Benhaddouche once tore all his right-knee ligaments. Photo: Eastern 'Playing in China teaches you a lot on and off the pitch,' he said. 'You're often alone and very few people speak English, but I adapted quickly. The football is on another level: there are bigger stadiums and crowds, and better local and foreign players. The physicality and speed is different from here.'
