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Hong Kong interim football coach Wolfgang Luisser laments ‘not good’ match-fixing news, surprised Losada added to staff

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Roberto Losada joined the Hong Kong representative team staff this week. Photo: Eastern FC

Wolfgang Luisser said he was caught off guard when the local football association appointed Roberto Losada as assistant coach for Hong Kong’s World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Turkmenistan.

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Austrian Luisser, previously deputy to Jorn Andersen, stepped up to take temporary charge after the Norwegian quit the head coach post last Wednesday. Under-23 boss Szeto Man-chun was installed as Luisser’s assistant.

But in surprise decision, Erik Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, announced that Eastern boss Losada had been added to the staff.

Asked if he had a say in Losada’s appointment, Luisser said “No”, adding that he was told on Friday, the day before the news became public.

“Graeme [Chan, team administration manager] asked if I would do the job with Szeto,” Luisser said. “On Friday, I got the information Chino [Losada] was joining us.

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“I had a chat with Eric Fok at [Saturday’s] FA Cup final. It is always good to have more coaches … more eyes see more, so it is good to have more support.”

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