- District side holding trials for budding footballers on Monday night, organised by new partners
- Deal continues the dramatic rise for the team built for city’s African refugees and asylum seekers
The new Hong Kong football season begins next month and one First Division team have undergone a dramatic overhaul in the summer.
Wong Tai Sin's district team will partner local grass-roots side All Black FC for the coming campaign and they are looking for new players.
The club will hold a trial for budding footballers on Monday at Morse Park in Wong Tai Sin. Players need to register their interest beforehand, but, other than that, it is open to all, according to All Black FC manager Medard Privat Koya.
"By this trials session it is an open door and opportunity we would like to give to all passionate and potential players to be selected to join the HKFA First Division Club," said Koya.
Anyone in Hong Kong who fancies themselves as a footballer can sign up for trials with Hong Kong First Division side Wong Tai Sin. 18:30 on Monday, July 22 at Morse Park. Organized by All Black FC. https://t.co/sknk5x1pLC
" Jonathan White (@jmawhite) July 21, 2019
"With players from different background, origins and religions, we really hope that the group of players that we will have will give a new face to Wong Tai Sin.
"The new team will bring new spirit and will keep having a very good positive social impact in Hong Kong and in the world.
"If we really have the support we need, we hope to build a very strong team in the long term."
It's been a remarkable rise for All Black FC since it was started in 2016 as a team for Hong Kong's community of African refugees and asylum seekers. It has quickly become more than that.
The club's aim is to provide a platform for all of Hong Kong's marginalised communities to achieve their sporting potential. One of their players, Jahangir Khan, just signed for Hong Kong Premier League side Happy Valley.
"Our team is very diverse, Christians, Muslims, Africans, Chinese, South Asians and different generations of players, mature players but also very young players," said Koya.
"Even though we are different we can still be united and be powerful based on respect," said Koya.
The club has grown to field men's and women's senior sides as well as youth teams and provide coaching in the community.
The men's team have become part of the fabric of the Hong Kong football community and have played friendlies against many of the local professional sides and the Hong Kong under-18 team. Most recently they played against Happy Valley last season and Sporting Macau.
As well as eyeing new players, All Black FC, which has relied on donations until now, are also looking for sponsorship for their side of the deal with Wong Tai Sin.
Koya said the team are focusing on promotion to the Hong Kong Premier League in their first season in partnership with Wong Tai Sin.
"For us all things are possible. Coming from nowhere and from nothing, people in Hong Kong and even all over the world have seen what we have been able to achieve.
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"We know our potential and if we can have good sponsors, I tell you that Wong Tai Sin this year can create big surprise. Why not to the Premier League?"
"All things are possible. We just need good sponsors now," Koya said.
The money from a sponsor will be used to target big-name signings from Hong Kong's naturalised African players.
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