Super Typhoon Saola: Hong Kong football bosses prepare to axe weekend games as storm threatens city
- Some weekend fixtures not expected to go ahead with officials planning to postpone matches if No 8 signal or higher in effect
- Eastern scheduled to play Kitchee on Saturday, with officials having planned for a full slate of matches before Fifa window
With Super Typhoon Saola rapidly approaching Hong Kong an already packed football fixture list could be put under even more pressure if this weekend’s games are postponed.
A full slate of matches had been planned for Saturday and Sunday ahead of a two-week break for the next Fifa playing window, when Hong Kong will take on Cambodia and Brunei.
But with forecasters considering whether to issue a higher warning signal than the No 8 already in effect, the likelihood is that Saturday’s matches at the very least will fall foul of the conditions.
According to a statement put out by the Hong Kong Football Association, games will be postponed if a “No 8 signal or above or black rainstorm warning are being issued or expected to be issued five hours before the match”.
The statement added that if a No 3 signal, red or amber rainstorm warning had been issued or was likely to be, an inspection of the ground would determine if the fixtures could be played.
In the unlikely event that the storm proves not to be as severe as expected, the big game of the weekend will see Eastern taking on defending champions Kitchee at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday evening.
Last season’s treble winners are gearing up for their AFC Champions League push, which starts away at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on September 20, and had been expected to give new signing Jakob Jantscher his first run out for the club.
The day’s early game had pitted Kwoon Chung Southern against Hong Kong Football Club at Aberdeen Sports Ground, in game scheduled to kick-off at 3pm.
Sunday’s matches, which could have a chance of taking place feature Sham Shui Po hosting newcomers Crownity North District, with Tai Po taking on BC Rangers, with both games starting at 3pm.
The late match at Tsing Yi Sports Ground, has two teams in RCFC and HK U23 both looking for a first win of the season. Lee Man had a bye this week.
