3 w. ago Ronaldo wows Hong Kong as Saudi Super Cup given ‘very satisfactory’ verdict

Football fans were granted most of their wishes at Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday as the Saudi Super Cup concluded with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo, even if the Portuguese was narrowly denied the silverware. Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr may have been beaten by Al-Ahli in a deciding penalty shoot-out, but the plaudits were largely for the man wearing No 7, the organisers’ star asset as they brought the tournament to East Asia for the first time. A crowd of about 30,000 cheered Ronaldo’s every...

Politics

3 w. ago From Riyadh to Hong Kong: Saudi Super Cup fans make presence felt

For football fans who travelled from the Middle East to watch this week’s Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong, it was about much more than star individuals such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Whereas most of the Chinese spectators the Post spoke to were attending purely to see Al-Nassr captain Ronaldo, and to a lesser extent Al-Ittihad skipper Benzema, the Saudi fans saw it as an opportunity to support their teams at a competitive tournament. All four clubs attracted fan groups to the city...

Politics

3 w. ago Kicking addiction: Hong Kong team seeking redemption at Homeless World Cup

A team of Hong Kong footballers and coaches, who have struggled with gambling and drug abuse, are aiming to overcome their pasts by competing in the 20th Homeless World Cup in Norway this week. The players, led by captain Habib Akeel Amjid, flew to Oslo on Thursday to represent Hong Kong at the tournament, where they will compete against 39 other men’s teams for the title. For Amjid, a 42-year-old father of three children aged between four months and nine years, playing for the team transformed...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Turning new leaf’: reformed Hong Kong addicts to compete in global football event

A team of Hong Kong footballers and coaches, who have struggled with gambling and drug abuse, are aiming to overcome their pasts by competing in the 20th Homeless World Cup in Norway this week. The players, led by captain Habib Akeel Amjid, flew to Oslo on Thursday to represent Hong Kong at the tournament, where they will compete against 39 other men’s teams for the title. For Amjid, a 42-year-old father of three children aged between four months and nine years, playing for the team transformed...

Politics

3 w. ago Reformed Hong Kong drug addicts to compete in global football event

A team of Hong Kong footballers and coaches, who have struggled with gambling and drug abuse, are aiming to overcome their pasts by competing in the 20th Homeless World Cup in Norway this week. The players, led by captain Habib Akeel Amjid, flew to Oslo on Thursday to represent Hong Kong at the tournament, where they will compete against 39 other men’s teams for the title. For Amjid, a 42-year-old father of three children aged between four months and nine years, playing for the team transformed...

Events

3 w. ago Bars near Hong Kong Stadium hoping for another big score from Ronaldo match

Restaurants and bars near Hong Kong Stadium have enjoyed a spike in business of at least 20 per cent thanks to the city hosting the Saudi Super Cup and are gearing up for Saturday when football legend Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play again. More than 30,000 spectators watched Ronaldo and his team Al-Nassr beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 at the Causeway Bay stadium on Tuesday. Al-Nassr will play either Al-Ahli or Al-Qadisiyah on Saturday in the final. Yuga, a cha chaan teng, or Hong Kong-style cafe, on...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong footballers say pitch bookings were cancelled for Ronaldo team to use

Football clubs in Hong Kong have called for better communication from the city’s governing body after it cancelled bookings of facilities to hand them over to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and their rival Saudi Super Cup teams. Recreational groups and Premier League clubs received messages at late notice stating that pitches were to be taken off them so that the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) could block-book them for the four visiting Saudi sides. Premier League club Eastern...

Politics