Sham Shui Po edge South China in Hong Kong Division 1 as players, fans back call to play on
With Premier League matches among elite sport fixtures cancelled out of respect for Tai Po fire, football seemed to be a source of solace
South China suffered a blow in their bid for a return to the big time on Sunday, while players and supporters largely backed the decision for the Hong Kong lower-league show to go on after last week’s tragic fire in Tai Po.
Local Premier League matches were among a host of elite sport cancelled over the weekend, but the Football Association of Hong Kong, China decided to proceed with the rest of their fixtures.
About 200 fans turned up to watch Sham Shui Po, FA Cup finalists 18 months ago, beat 10-man South China 1-0 through a stoppage-time goal from Aryan Rai in the First Division match at Po Kong Village Road Sports Ground.
Vincent Chan, a long-standing South China loyalist, backed the decision to play because the fixture, along with a number of others at the same venue, had not drawn manpower from relief efforts in Tai Po.
“We wanted to come out, I think it was OK to play,” said Chan, pointing out that South China fans had come dressed in the club’s blue away shirt, rather than the first-choice red, as a mark of respect.
A minute’s silence was also held before all matches on Sunday.