AFC Asian Cup finals: Hong Kong midfielder Jesse Yu was ‘scared on pitch’ – now he is transformed and wants to wow foreign clubs
- Midfielder is fighting for a place in Hong Kong’s starting team for the finals in Qatar, and feels ready to ‘perform on biggest stage’
- Yu hopes the tournament can help earn him a move abroad, but says the campaign is also a chance to ‘promote football in Hong Kong’
Hong Kong midfielder Jesse Yu Joy-yin says he has overcome the fear that stifled his expressive talent and is ready to shine at this month’s AFC Asian Cup finals.
Yu was part of the squad who progressed from last year’s qualifying tournament, but played only 12 minutes in three matches and suspected he would not be involved in the finals in Qatar.
But the 22-year-old has forced the hand of head coach Jorn Andersen with his performances this season, for club team Eastern and in Hong Kong under- 23s’ run to the Asian Games semi-finals.
Yu impressed in warm-up matches against Kitchee and HK U23 last month, and has gone from an outsider to being named in the finals squad and making himself a contender for the starting 11.
“Last year, I barely had any game time and did not think I was an important figure in the team,” Yu said. “But I have matured a lot in the past 18 months.
“Before, my mentality was weak. I was scared to be free on the pitch and enjoy the moment.
“Now, I have the confidence to play my own football. I know what I am capable of and do not feel pressure in the senior team. I have developed mentally, and in my football, and no longer consider myself a young player who is there to learn and add to the numbers.
“Everyone wants to start, and I believe I can be an important part of the team and perform on the biggest stage.”
Yu attributes his renewed self-belief to an “accumulation of experience” as a regular in Andersen’s squad, even if he has still made only two substitute appearances in full internationals. He had a fabulous Asian Games, his composure and quick football brain integral to milestone victories over Palestine and Iran.
The player boarded the national team’s flight to Abu Dhabi – where they are stopping en route to Qatar – with the praise of Andersen ringing in his ears. The Norwegian namechecked Yu among a group of youngsters who are “the future of Hong Kong football”.
“I know the coach has been recognising my game and has his eyes on me,” Yu said. “It is great to hear what he said, but I will not be thinking of myself as the future of Hong Kong.
“I have never had a coach who pushed me so intensely in training and games. I am running much more, my reading of the game has improved, and as a team we are more aggressive and high-pressing.
“I knew I had to give everything in the local training camp. I took the view that if he picked me for the final squad, that was good, and if not, I had more to improve.”
Yu joined Eastern this season, following two years with BC Rangers, but like a number of his international colleagues, he has his sights set on a move away from Hong Kong.
“It is my ambition to play at a higher level in Asia,” he said. “It is important to take advantage of an opportunity to play on one of the biggest stages in Asia [in Qatar]. You never know who is watching, and you might gain recognition from teams outside Hong Kong.”
Yu followed teammates Helio Goncalves and Shinichi Chan in insisting he would choose Asian Cup progress over playing against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on February 4.
Despite admitting that “Messi is my favourite player, I love him”, Yu said the continental competition was a rare opportunity to “promote football in Hong Kong”.
“We want to bring everyone together to get behind Hong Kong,” he said. “Football in Hong Kong needs more support and we want more people to realise how much work we are putting in.”
