AFC Champions League 2: Inspired Tai Po fighting for Hong Kong’s reputation

Midfielder Remi Dujardin said Tai Po would be fighting for the honour of Hong Kong football when they enter the lion’s den at Cong An Hanoi on Thursday.

After beating Macarthur for a winning start to their AFC Champions League Two campaign a fortnight ago, the Hong Kong champions’ continental quest is about to grow tougher on their visit to the Vietnamese cup holders’ 22,500 capacity Hang Day Stadium.

But Dujardin said “inspirational” head coach Lee Chi-kin had convinced his team anything was possible, as Tai Po try to establish themselves as one of the best teams to have come out of Hong Kong.

“This is massive for the club … and the coach insists we’re not just representing a district, we’re playing for Hong Kong,” Dujardin said. “We want to show the standard is getting stronger here.”

Former local powerhouses South China and Kitchee were the last Hong Kong teams to escape an Asian group, in 2016, other than Lee Man and Eastern, respectively, who progressed in the heavily diluted competitions of 2021 and 2022.

While Tai Po’s resurgence is in its infancy, the 57-year-old Lee has assembled a squad packed with power, speed, skill and no little resilience.