Hong Kong football legend’s backing for U22 league but pleads for more games on grass

One of Hong Kong’s most successful and enduring footballers, Helio Goncalves, believes the city’s under-22 league is delivering “huge experiences” for emerging players, but he acknowledged “it would be great to play more on grass”.

A six-times local Premier League champion during 11 years with Kitchee, Goncalves has this season combined being the cornerstone of Eastern District’s miserly defence with managing the club’s under-22 team in the league that was launched last term.

On Monday, the 40-year-old’s young charges overcame Kowloon City on penalties in an under-22 FA Cup quarter-final following a feisty 2-2 draw on Kowloon Bay Park’s dreadful artificial playing surface. With clubs permitted to field three players born before 2004, Kowloon’s team featured Kessi Isac, a powerful and canny 31-year-old midfielder, and robust striker Kayron Ramos, also 31.

“The league is very competitive and it’s a huge experience for youngsters when they face those types of players,” Goncalves said.

“If a player goes to the senior team and has never experienced something like this they will suffer. Here, they have to handle strong guys like Kayron, so they’re well prepared and can manage when they step up.”

Goncalves’s young side have played fewer than half of their matches this season on turf pitches.

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