Western Wanderers show money isn't everything after conquering Al Hilal
HK clubs can learn how Asian champions can achieve plenty without cash
Hong Kong soccer clubs take note - dreams can come true.
Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia's youngest club and winners of the Asian Champions League, are the latest embodiment of the expression.
The Wanderers' calm, composed and professional manner during the second leg against Al Hilal at the hostile King Fahd stadium last Saturday might have won them more fans. The way they managed the intense pressure and provocation is a great lesson to all players, coaches and clubs who face overwhelming odds.
Hong Kong clubs are willing to spend similar sums as A-League clubs yet remain firmly ensconced at the lower levels of the AFC Cup
The Australians demonstrated that being the underdogs in terms of money, support, heritage and relative talent is no barrier to winning.
Unlike Al Hilal and last season's champions Guangzhou Evergrande of China, who they also overcame in the competition, the Wanderers are not backed by royalty or billionaires.
In fact, Australia imposes a salary cap to ensure there is perceived parity among A-League clubs. They are allowed two marquee players and a squad budget of A$2.5 million (HK$17.05 million).
This is comparable to the budgets of Hong Kong's four most ambitious clubs - Kitchee, South China, Sun Pegasus and Eastern - who are vying to become the inaugural Premier League champions.
Hong Kong clubs are willing to spend similar sums as A-League clubs yet remain firmly ensconced at the lower levels of the AFC Cup. Simply pumping more money into clubs does not guarantee success.
The Wanderers were founded in 2012 and surprised everybody by winning the league and reaching the grand final in their first season. The fan base has since grown to 15,000 and the club openly values views from supporter forums. Hong Kong clubs, despite their proud heritage, need to work on gaining similar support from fans.
There are important lessons here for Hong Kong. The HKFA has focused further afield on development strategies, while closer to home, Asian countries like Australia and Japan have already demonstrated significant progress in developing their players, domestic leagues, national teams, and match officials.
The success of A-League and J-League clubs, as well as the achievements of World Cup referees Ben Williams and Yuichi Nishimura, should inspire Hong Kong to dare to dream.
Australian Williams was Asia's best performing referee at this year's World Cup in Brazil yet the media chose to highlight Nishimura's muted performance in the opening match.
Sadly, Al Hilal were quick to admonish Nishimura, of Japan. Admittedly, Al Hilal had solid penalty claims that Nishimura waved away, but they also spurned 25 shots compared with only three from the Wanderers. In addition, they had the support of 67,000 fans.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, a nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and honorary Al-Hilal board member, paid for all the home tickets. He also offered each first-team player and staff member an incentive of 100,000 riyals (HK$206,700) to win. Upon losing they promptly complained.
"[It was] a looting of the right of an entire people who has been waiting for happiness and enjoyment of fair competition," the club said bitterly.
That is risible. Western Sydney Wanderers thoroughly deserve to be champions. The AFC must fine Al Hilal for their comments and investigate their players' unsporting behaviour during and after the match.
Closer to home, the HKFA must take action against Admir Rascic and coach Ricardo Rambo of Sun Pegasus following offensive comments about Hong Kong referees after their recent loss to Eastern. "Sorry, I can't really call them referees," complained Rascic. Rambo also criticised the match officials and claimed Eastern's coaches and reserve players put pressure on the referees.
Such negativity from players and coaches reveals the toxic and disrespectful attitude towards referees here.
