Hong Kong striker Udebuluzor hopes to make China home, as he quits problem club in Germany
Michael Udebuluzor has pledged to knuckle down and fulfil his potential after emerging from a difficult period outside football.
The Hong Kong striker was one of the few players to emerge with credit from Tuesday’s 6-1 drubbing by Japan, after he was introduced with his side at 5-0 down at half-time in their East Asian Football Championship opener.
Udebuluzor said he was juggling the city’s time in South Korea with finalising his exit from VfR Mannheim, where he moved last summer from fellow German club FC Ingolstadt 04.
“I don’t like the club, I’ve had my problems with the coach, and it’s best for me to leave,” Udebuluzor said. “My next club could be in Europe or Asia.
“Maybe it would be better to be in China, I’d be closer to my family and have no distractions. Germany had its problems, which I don’t want to get into.”
Asked if he had been happy in Germany, Udebuluzor replied “no”, but added that he expected that to change in a new country, where he would “work harder and I can try to be the best I can be”.
Last year, a well-placed source told the Post that Udebuluzor would consider whether he could regularly commit to Hong Kong, given his extensive travel was being rewarded with minimal game time. In March, he played for the under-22s in Myanmar, while the senior team hosted Macau.
But the 21-year-old said he never seriously considered stepping away, and had just been going through “a s*** period outside football, with family problems, so it wasn’t easy”.
Udebuluzor used some colourful language when asked about his thoughts on being sent on with Hong Kong already well beaten, but was adamant about joining the action.
“If you don’t want to get on the pitch, you should stop playing football,” he said. “I tried to do what I could in a difficult game, holding the ball and getting fouls, it was the only way of getting us up the pitch.”
Udebuluzor said Hong Kong “need to be smarter in how we play” when they tackle South Korea on Friday, with confidence an important factor in the team’s approach.
“Mistakes happen, but don’t make the same mistake over and over until it’s 4-0,” he said. “We did better in the second half, but it was a s*** night and s*** result. Korea are another tough opponent, but, hopefully, this time we’ll do better.
“We need to play more to our strengths than our weaknesses, then see how it goes.”
Udebuluzor’s two international goals date back to his second appearance, against Bhutan in October 2023. Only eight of his 17 appearances have come as a starter, however.
“It’s the coach’s decision whether I start against Korea, but I’m ready,” Udebuluzor said.
Hong Kong can expect a bigger audience for their clash with the hosts than the puny 687 who watched against Japan. A large proportion of that crowd was made up of Hongkongers, who remained steadfastly behind their team.
They are set to show up in bigger numbers for the Korea clash, and further swell for next Tuesday’s meeting with China.
“They’re unbelievable, always behind us no matter what, and we value it a lot,” Udebuluzor said. “We hope to have their support against Korea, because it makes us stronger.”
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3317619/hong-kong-striker-udebuluzor-hopes-make-china-home-he-quits-problem-club-germany