Group: D
Seeded: 9-12
Founded: 1909 (HKFA)
Home: HKFA, 55 Fat Kwong Street, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
This year’s HKFA U-20 side succeed the HKFA U-21 side that competed from 2011 to 2014 (playing as Hong Kong Dragons in 2012 and 2013) and peaked last year by reaching the Cup quarter-finals.
The purpose of inviting HKFA age-group sides to the Soccer Sevens was to give the city’s top youngsters exposure to tournament-intensity competition against similarly aged players from top European clubs. This year, HKFA U-20 will get exactly that as they face strong sides from Atletico Madrid and Stoke City, as well as some of Hong Kong’s top amateurs from Yau Yee League Select.
From the provisional 14-man squad as of early May, defender Lau Hok-ming and goalkeeper Yuen Ho-chun both played for HKFA U-21 in last year’s Soccer Sevens as well as in this year’s AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers.
Forward Chung Wai-keung, midfielder Wong Chun-hin and defenders Lai Hau-hei and Yu Pui-hong also played for Hong Kong in their AFC U-23 Championship qualifying group in Taipei.
Last year, HKFA U-21 drew 1-1 with Yau Yee League Select to confirm second place in Group D behind Aston Villa, having earlier shocked then-defending champions Leicester City 1-0. They then suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat in extra-time to eventual finalists Kitchee in an entertaining Cup quarter-final before losing 2-0 to Rangers in the Shield semis.
Two years ago, HKFA Dragons edged Yau Yee League Select on penalties in the Plate quarter-finals before losing on spot-kicks to eventual champions BC Rangers in the semis.
SQUAD
- MANAGEMENT -
- Anilton Da Conceicao - Head Coach
- Szeto Man-chun - Team Manager
- PLAYERS -
- 1. Li Yat-chun (Eastern; 19) - Goalkeeper
- 2. Yu Pui-hong (Wong Tai Sin; 20) - Defender
- 3. Wang Hecun (Kitchee; 18) - Defender
- 4. Lau Hok-ming (YFCMD; 19) - Defender
- 5. Lee Ka-wah (BC Rangers; 18) - Defender
- 7. Cheng King-ho (Yuen Long; 25) - Midfielder
- 11. Chung Wai-keung (Metro Gallery Sun Source; 19) - Forward
- 12. Lai Hau-hei (c) (BC Rangers; 20) - Defender
- 15. Wong Chun-hin (Wong Tai Sin; 19) - Midfielder
- 20. Lai Lok-yin (Metro Gallery Sun Source; 19) - Midfielder
RECORD
-
2015
Group D (4th)
Lost to Atletico Madrid 2-1
Lost to Stoke City 3-0
Lost to Yau Yee League Select 2-1
Plate quarter-finals: Lost to Shanghai SIPG 2-0
-
2014
(HKFA U-21)
Group D (2nd)
Lost to Aston Villa 2-0
Beat Leicester City 1-0
Drew with Yau Yee League Select 1-1
Cup quarter-final: Lost to Kitchee 2-1 (a.e.t)
Shield semi-final: Lost to Rangers 2-0
-
2013
(HKFA Dragons)
Group C (3rd)
Lost to South China 3-2Lost to Rangers 2-1
Beat Hong Kong Football Club 2-0
Plate quarter-final: Beat Yau Yee League Select 0-0 (1-0 pens)
Plate semi-final: Lost to BC Rangers 1-1 (1-2 pens)
-
2012
(HKFA Dragons)
Group D (4th)
Lost to Newcastle United 2-0
Lost to Aston Villa 3-1
Drew with Hong Kong Football Club 0-0
Plate quarter-final: Lost to West Ham United 3-0
-
2011
(HKFA U-21)
Group B (4th)
Lost to Boca Juniors 1-0
Lost to Rangers 4-0
Drew with Singapore Cricket Club 0-0
Plate quarter-final: Beat Fourway Rangers 1-0
Semi-final: Lost to HKFC Captain’s Select 1-0