Hong Kong football landscape shifting ahead of Senior Shield semi-final weekend
North District aiming to overcome Tai Po to reach first major final, before Eastern try to rescue campaign in match against BC Rangers
The Senior Shield semi-finals this weekend could reveal more about the Hong Kong football landscape than merely the identity of the two teams that will contest the Lunar New Year showpiece later this month.
For North District, their Mong Kok Stadium last-four clash with Tai Po on Saturday doubles as an opportunity to confirm they belong in the elite bracket of city clubs.
On Sunday, holders Eastern will take on BC Rangers, also at Mong Kok, aiming to show their steep and sudden decline this season is not terminal.
Competing in the fourth tier as recently as 2017-18, this is a first major semi-final for North District. The club’s chairman, Chu Ho-yin, has promised his players and staff a HK$100,000 (US$12,800) prize pot for victory.
Chan Chi-hong, the head coach who has astutely transformed the perennial strugglers into third-placed title challengers in just one year at the helm, was typically measured ahead of a “tough but exciting” challenge.
“It’s important for us but I’m not thinking too far ahead because Tai Po are an experienced and strong team, with many quality players,” Chan said.