Hong Kong football bosses silent over Andersen contract talks, as head coach plots World Cup qualifiers upset
- Hong Kong have back-to-back World Cup qualifying meetings with Uzbekistan over the next week
- Jorn Andersen’s side took one point from the opening two games, and host Uzbeks at sold-out Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday
Jorn Andersen is shelving thoughts over his future until Hong Kong complete their Fifa World Cup qualifiers in June, and has not had any word from the city’s football bosses about a new deal.
The head coach, whose current contract expires in June next year, is preparing to lead an injury-hit squad in two World Cup fixtures against Uzbekistan, beginning with Thursday’s clash at a sold-out Mong Kok Stadium.
Since taking charge the Norwegian has guided Hong Kong to the Asian Cup finals in Qatar for the first time since 1968, and taken an under-23 side to the last four of the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The FA have not moved to secure the 61-year-old on longer terms, despite his transformation of their representative team over a 27-month reign.
Andersen said the governing body had not spoken to him about its plans and he was focusing on the two matches this month, and two more in June.
“I do not wait to see if they will do something,” he said. “From my side, no one [from the FA] is coming to speak with me. If, on my side, some good things come, then I have to go to speak with them.”
Andersen has a defensive headache for the forthcoming meetings with Asian Cup quarter-finalists Uzbekistan, ranked 66 in the world, to Hong Kong’s 154. He is without newly-naturalised centre-half Dudu, who is nursing damaged knee ligaments, and mainland-based pair Vas Nunez and Jacky Leung Nok-hang.
Nunez is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in Qatar, but Leung’s absence is the latest in a long line of instances of the centre-back being kept away from international duty by Zhejiang Pro.
The Chinese Super League club messaged the Hong Kong FA to say the player had coronavirus. “I do not want to talk about that,” Andersen said.
Shinichi Chan was omitted from the squad, because he “is not fit enough for matches against Uzbekistan”, despite recently returning from a hamstring issue. Fernando is also unavailable, because of shoulder trouble.
Uncapped Leon Jones missed training on Monday, after hurting a shoulder in Eastern’s draw with Lee Man on Saturday. Jones was joined on the sidelines by fellow centre-back Helio Goncavles, and Law Tsz-chun, the Kitchee right-back.
Creative attacker Everton Camargo is expected to train on Tuesday, after sitting out Monday’s session to protect a minor Achilles injury.
Hong Kong have one point from their opening two World Cup qualifiers. They play Uzbekistan in Tashkent next Tuesday, then finish the group fixtures, which double as 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with return games against Iran and Turkmenistan.
On Monday, Andersen showed his squad videos of their best moments from Qatar, when Hong Kong went toe-to-toe with two of Asian football’s leading lights, in United Arab Emirates and Iran.
“We have to build on these things, and we are not afraid of playing against Uzebekistan,” Andersen said. “They have a very strong team ... but I see some weaknesses, and possibilities that, with some luck, we can have a good result.
“We can compete with strong teams when we have a good day, which is good for confidence. The players now have the right mentality, they want to fight for Hong Kong, and are always trying to improve, and the young players are pushing the more experienced ones.”
Andersen hopes Mong Kok Stadium creates an intimidating cauldron for Uzbekistan, after the game was moved from Hong Kong Stadium because of the imminent rugby sevens.
He expects the fans to back his team with their characteristic force, but admitted some concern over his players’ ability to replicate their intensity from Qatar.
Sun Ming-him and Oliver Gerbig have both subsequently moved to the mainland, but the majority play in the local Premier League.
“They have been back for two months, and automatically their condition went down,” Andersen said. “The tempo is not too high, and the quality is low. But I have to be used to it, because this is the Hong Kong Premier League.”
