“We have to give young players more quality training” Andersen said. “And many players here with me don’t play for their cubs, in this low-level league. There are lot of foreigners in the league, taking chances away from our players.
“If the government can support young players in the clubs, from 12-18, they can receive more quality training. Then Hong Kong football will benefit. The best young talents leave Hong Kong at 19 or 20 and stop playing football, it is not good.”
“I told the players how important this game is for the future of Hong Kong football,” Andersen said. “We want to compete with these teams [potential group opponents] and not play friendlies against Macau and Chinese Taipei.
“The tournament in China was a good advert for this game. Maybe we can have 20,000 in the stadium and, hopefully, we can give them value for money.”
With Pereira and Juninho, who play locally for Southern and Kitchee, respectively, having completed seven years of residency, the Norwegian boss is optimistic he can soon add more fire power.
Andersen said he was hopeful the latter, who is out injured with a hamstring injury, could join the team in time for next month’s Fifa window.
“He [Juninho] is a player I am looking forward to seeing with a Hong Kong passport, he can make a difference, like Everton,” Andersen said.
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3237453/future-hong-kong-football-stake-says-boss-andersen-national-team-prepare-face-bhutan-world-cup