Sham Shui Po strengthen leaky defence with Norwegian Narh, as coach bemoans Premier League fixture headache
- Sham Shui Po confirm double capture with new Hong Kong Premier League campaign fast approaching
- Norwegian Nii Noye Narh will help shore up rearguard with goalkeeper Lee Yat-chun also arriving
Norwegian defender Nii Noye Narh vowed to use his depth of European experience to help fix Sham Shui Po’s leaky rearguard after signing for the Hong Kong Premier League club on Monday.
Narh’s arrival was confirmed on the same day Sham Shui Po added goalkeeper Lee Yat-chun from Eastern.
The Kowloon club endured a chastening debut Premier League campaign last season, kept off the foot of the table only by HK U23 after winning two of 18 games, both against the basement team. Sham Shui Po scored four goals and conceded 62.
Former assistant manager Lawrence Tang Kwun-yin has stepped up to the head coach post for the forthcoming season, which Sham Shui Po begin at home against Southern on August 20.
Tang admitted the league’s delay in confirming fixtures – Sham Shui Po learned their first-day opponents one week ago after originally being told they would meet HK U23 – had complicated preparations.
But he was upbeat about close season transfer business that also saw powerhouse forward Ismael Dunga, 30, join from Sagan Tosu in Japan and loan deals arranged with Thai club Buriram United for attacker Panupong Wongpila, and right-back and fellow 20-year-old Phumin Boers.
Narh, 28, who was most recently in Kosovo with KF Drenica and played in Cyprus and Portugal after leaving Norwegian football, aged 20, will add the “aggression” Tang wants from his side this term.
“Regardless of results last season, I would still feel a big responsibility coming into the team,” Narh said. “Every player should feel that way.
“My experience from different countries helps in a new environment. It’s made me more open minded, in terms of ways of playing and everything outside the pitch: knowing no situation is permanent and the value of patience.
“My first season abroad in Cyrpus [with Liopetriou in 2015-16] was scary, I felt I was out of my depth. In a foreign country that was horrible. But I don’t regret the decision to go, it helped me grow.
“I am a ball-playing centre-back. I like to drive with the ball … to attract pressure then go past my man and release the player in behind. And I am quick and strong.”
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Sham Shui Po, whose new green home jerseys pay homage to the neon signs latterly removed from the district, suffered a succession of humbling results last season and lost their two games against champions Kitchee by an aggregate of 17-0.
“The initial target is to improve on last season, which I think we will, then see how far that takes us,” added Narh.
“The team is decent. There are stronger sides in the league and Lee Man and Kitchee might be on a different level but beating them is not impossible.
“I have always had an interest in Asia, mainly the J. League. I see Hong Kong as a potential stepping stone to staying [in Asia] a long time.”
Sham Shui Po will be captained by another fresh face, Ngan Cheuk-pan, the 25-year-old midfielder acquired on loan from Kitchee.
Summer recruitment, confessed Tang, was conducted to mould a team capable of “running a lot, being more aggressive and putting pressure on opponents”.
“I am familiar with the club and some of the players, so stepping up [to the head coach position] was no issue,” Tang added.
“The players we signed are professional and have quality. I don’t set targets, I only want to improve the players, so they can gain selection for Hong Kong. I am carefully managing training so the players benefit and improve.”
