This Sunday was a ‘bloody Sunday’ for world football. One after the other, leagues got postponed, but Uri managed to cover the Angolan Girabola matchday and the thrilling Hong Kong FA Cup semifinal. Football is bleeding but still breathing.
For Guangzhou R&F, the only Chinese team in Hong Kong, the Coronavirus is the least of their concerns.
China’s fight against Mesut Özil wasn’t the only political issue that the country has faced in the last week. With domestic conflicts and criticism abroad, football wasn’t left behind, and Europe had to chose between its ideology or Chinese money.
The Weekend Guide is here once again and this time we have a double header from the Caribbean with the Copa América Centenario playoffs and the league of Bermuda, as well a short visit to the Far East and the league of Hong Kong.
(All the hours are in CET)
Amateur (Like these guys)
What? Trinidad and Tobago – Haiti (Copa América Centenario playoffs)
When? Friday, 23:30
Where? Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City
Why? The centennial tournament of the Copa América will take place in the USA next summer and the last two CONCACAF spots are left to be decided. On Friday night Trinidad Tobago and Haiti will play for the qualification.
Key Players: Khaleem Hyland will be the top Soca Warrior for this match, with 8 years of experience in the Belgian league and 53 international caps. Meanwhile, Haiti’s leading player is the promising 21 years old attacker, Duckens Nazon, who plays for the French second tier club Laval and has scored 4 goals in the Gold Cup.
Panamanian Heritage: Until 1993, the stadium was named "Estadio Revolución". Now it is named after Rommel Fernández, a Panamanian footballer who died in car accident at the age of 27.
Professional (like this guy)
What? Eastern – South China (Hong Kong Premier League)
When? Sunday, 10:30
Where? Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Why? After both teams played 6 matches, just one point is the difference between the leaders Eastern and the second place South China. Eastern haven't lost yet and they wish to win their first title since 1995.
Key Players: Eastern's Australian Andrew Barisic is one of the league top scorers with 4 goals, and besides playing in Hong Kong he previously played in India, Indonesia and German amateur leagues. South China's main player is goalkeeper Cristian Mora, 36 years old Ecuadorian who played for the national team during their World Cup campaign in 2006.
The O Team: In the 1992/3 season, Eastern started the season with 9 wins in 9 matches, and had an impressive balance of 30 goals for and no goals conceded.
World Class (like this goal)
What? Dandy Town Hornets – Robin Hood (Bermuda Premier League)
When? Sunday, 20:00
Where? St. John's Field, Pembroke Parish
Why? Dandy Town is on first place with 25 points, while Robin Hood is 9 points behind in the second place. If Dandy Town will win it, they’ll get closer for their eighth title. If they lose, the race will open up.
Key Players: The two leading scorers of the league will be on the same field, so it's a showtime! Dandy Town’s Tomiko Goater is an 18 year older who scored 7 goals in his debut season. Robin Hood’s Lejuan Simmons scored 9 goals this season, after playing previously for Ilkeston, a non-league English club at the 8th division.
National Player: Former Bermudian footballer Kyle Lightbourne had 40 international caps and played for over a decade in England. Except from being international footballer, Lightbourne made 5 caps for Bermuda national cricket team in 1990.
(All times are in CET local time)
Amateur (Like these guys)
What? Boca Juniors – San Lorenzo (Argentine Primera División)
When? Sunday, 23:15
Where? Estadio Alberto J. Armando, Buenos Aires (La Bombonera)
Why? The weird marathon called the Argentine league is close to its end. This week, the two leaders of the league will face off, on the 23rd matchday. Boca Juniors is leading the table with 49 points, as San Lorenzo is just 2 points behind, on 2nd place.
Key Players: In Boca Juniors, the absence of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Gago will be a great opportunity for Sebastián Palacios, to show his talent. San Lorenzo have an impressive defensive record of just 13 goals conceded, and one of the players that are responsible for that is the veteran Colombian, Mario Yepes, who is still playing in the age of 39.
Amazing Numbers: In August 2006, Boca Juniors defeated San Lorenzo in an unusual result - 7:1. Good old Martín Palermo scored a hat-trick, while Rodrigo Palacio scored twice.
Professional (like this guy)
What? China – Hong Kong (2018 World Cup Qualifiers)
When? Thursday, 13:35
Where? Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen
Why? In 1997, Hong Kong became a Chinese territory and during the past year the tension between China and the region aroused. This World Cup qualifier match will be some kind of a derby. China started their campaign perfectly with an easy 6:0 victory against Bhutan. For Hong Kong it will be their third match, after defeating Bhutan (7:0) and Maldives (2:0).
Key Players: It's not common to find Chinese players in Europe, but they have one in their current squad, Zhang Chengdong, who previously played in Portugal and Germany, and now he is part of Spanish side Rayo Vallecano’s squad. The dominant player in Hong Kong is Huang Yang, who led his team Kitchee to another local championship title.
Amazing numbers: In 2004 Hong Kong lost to China 7:0, its biggest defeat ever.
World Class (like this guy)
What? Palestine – United Arab Emirates (2018 World Cup Qualifiers)
When? Tuesday, 16:00
Where? Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram
Why? Palestinian football has made an impressive progress in the past two years, and the UAE team would be one of the best visiting teams to play on Palestinian soil. The United Arab Emirates team, semifinalist’s of the last AFC Asian Cup, wishes for their first World Cup appearance since 1990, and opened their campaign with 1:0 against Timor-Leste. Palestine are the clear underdogs in this match, and they already lost 3:2 to Saudi Arabia and won 6:0 against Malaysia.
Key Players: Palestine will be missing Ashraf Nu’man due to injury, but will display a line of foreign-based Palestinian-origin players from Chile, Paraguay, Sweden and more. Slovenian-born Jaka Ihbeisheh, the 29 years old left back, who scored the historic goal for Palestine in the last Asian Cup, will be there as well. For the UAE it's clear that Omar Abdulrahman, the most promising player in Asian football, will dominate the game.
Amazing Numbers: The most capped player in the history of UAE is Adnan Al Talyani, who made 161 caps. He ranks as the 10th most capped player in the history of international football.
