HK coach Paulic told to show credentials or face clubs' wrath

First Division side Kitchee threatened to pull their players out of the Hong Kong Under-23 squad on the eve of the interport clash with Macau in a dispute over Goran Paulic's coaching licence.

Four Kitchee players were named in the 18-member squad, which takes on the Macanese at Mong Kok Stadium today, but the club warned this would be the last time they provided players unless Hong Kong coach Paulic could prove he had the proper Uefa licence. The four players are midfielders Ip Chung-long and Chan Man-fai, and strikers Cheng Lai-hin and Tsang Kam-to.

'The FA board of directors decided at its December meeting that Paulic needed to process his Uefa coaching licence on or before January 31, but as far as I know nothing has been done,' said Kitchee president Ken Ng Kin, who is also a director.

'As time is running short for tomorrow's match, we will still support the Hong Kong team by sending our players, but not for any future match until the coach can meet the requirement by proving his qualifications.'

HKFA deputy general secretary Lam Shing-kui said they had received a confirmation letter from the Croatia Football Association that the Croat is a registered coach with Uefa.

Paulic, who signed a one-year contract with the HKFA last August, said the issue was a joke and preferred not to make any comment. 'This has been going on and on for a long time and I don't want to comment on it,' he said.