Pontus Fem

After two and a bit seasons undertaking my normal game style, I decided to try something different and add a truly amateur manager to my game and see what would happen. I loaded up a who host of new leagues to me, and waited to see what would come his way.

I decided to go with a Swedish manager called Pontus Fem. Pontus means “sea bridge”, which feels fitting for a man who will make a career of travelling the world, and “Fem” is Swedish for “five”. After a huge wait, I finally managed to get an interview and a job offer from…

South China Athletic Association of Hong Kong. Turns out they might just be of the most successful teams in Hong Kong having won the First Division 40 times in their history. It's been 12 years since the FA rearranged the top flight in Hong Kong, and South China haven't won the new iteration of the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League. We've won the Challenge Shield a record 30 times, and the FA Cup 10 times. But our aim is to do something that has never been done…win the AFC Champions League.

My first request is for the board to agree to fund a coaching badge for me. It's a hard no, and I'm too scared to argue in case it costs me a job I've waited months for. I have a one year contract, and I don't want to give the board any excuse to turn it into a ten minute deal. The club is a blank slate, as there are just two members of staff on the books…me, and the chairman. It's a squeeze in our joint office, but I'm hoping we'll get on well. I have just six days from starting at the club before our first league game, and a huge amount of work to do.

The first team squad is…a squad. I make my first addition in the form of Luke Mitchel on trial. Beyond that, I might need some investment.

Luckily for me, the chairman has given me a little bit of money to spend. £460k feels like a good budget for the league, and an extra £2.5k a week in wages to play with. 

Ideally, I need to hire a whole backroom staff, and sign a couple of decent players to ensure we mount a challenge for the league. Anything other than the title means no AFC Champions League football. That being said, a second or third placed finish would mean a go at the AFC Cup…and the challenge of adding both of the continental competitions on my way around the world is a little appealing. I plan on trying to ensure I use as many local players as possible, so let's see what happens. I immediately throw out job adverts for coaches, an assistant manager, scouts, physios, tea ladies, a dog…anyone I can get my hands on really. 

Thankfully, my first game in charge ends up being a 4-1 victory over North District FC (who are predicted to finish 11th out of 12 teams) gets us off to a good start. I'm not Guardiola, so I play safe with a formation I've used for over a decade in game (obviously the 4-2-3-1) and it works well enough.

I think I might make Au Man Lok the captain and sign him wherever I go, because it might just be the best name I've seen in game since Yaya Banana.

I complete Luke Mitchel on a free transfer, and he instantly becomes the best player at the club. A dual nationality player, holding both New Zealand and Hong Kong passports, so I'm happy enough to consider him one of our own already. 

He did demand a £34,500 release clause in his contract…so I am a little concerned about what might happen. But, future Fem can worry about that. Back to the drawing board, and back to focusing on building the club from nothing.

Fem, out (for now).

Challenge One - Staffing

As mentioned, I am currently the sole member of staff at the club. I'm running around sorting training, washing the kits, giving the players a rub down, and sorting the coach travel for the next game. It's a ghost town here.

The biggest issue I have is that trying to trawl through the transfer market is difficult because I can't filter my search by those who are unrealistic targets. I know not to approach a certain caliber of player, but I'm being rejected by almost everyone I look at. Even Hong Kong physios who are unemployed aren't interested. I'm beginning to wonder whether I need to change my toothpaste…

Throw in the other big issue around training and player development. Really I need to build the squad up, and without enough staff training is ineffective, and without a medical team injuries will be an issue.

Challenge Two - Youth Squad

I have no issue with the youth team here. That is to say, I have no issues as I have no players. I need to find time between now (late August 2026) and October 5th 2026 to add some quality to my first team AND try to find a few decent young prospects I can sign up to build a youth team up. All of a sudden that transfer budget feels like it might be a little tight. I'd originally planned on trying to put most of the budget into the wages, and sign up some free transfers. Instead, I'm going to have to free up wages from the squad by getting rid of deadwood (which always feels harder when you need to do it) and hope I can pull some bunnies our of the proverbial hat.

September Arrives

As the days roll into weeks, South China remains largely a lonely place. We win game two against Woofoo Tai Po thanks to a loan goal from Shiu Tsz Long midway through the first half, and find ourselves in third place. We are predicted to finish 8th in the league, and a 150-1 shot to win the title. Apparently, I'm not allowed to bet my entire transfer budget on us winning it, even when I point out what the £6m could do for the club. I begin to feel like Jack Torrence sat around in my office on my own talking to myself, and decide to act before I go mad.

Desperate to get staff in place, I feel like I've approached almost every person I can find. The adverts placed for staff draw little interest. Not one applicant for the coaching or fitness coaching jobs is disappointing. An offer is made to a Head of Youth development until the end of the season, and an offer is extended to add a Sports Scientist to the medical team. 

I do stumble across a candidate for the Assistant Manager job in Lau Chun Chung. He's got a few reasonable skills, especially when compared to some of the assistant managers across the league. He'll do until the end of the season.

Now the canteen has a few more faces in it, I can begin to think about recruitment. I still need more staff, but as the club has decided to run both a reserve and an Under 18 team, and I have just one player on the books for both, I do need to try and find a few players to bolster those squads. I begin by looking in the free agent market. There really are so few Hong Kong players available on free deals, so before I start looking to dust off the club credit card, I begin to search for other nations in the region who might have some players. A quick call around leads me to the doorstep of the Supreme Leader, and a small batch of unattached North Korean players. Trials are offered, and accepted. Now, I just need some staff to help me evaluate them. A further seven trials are offered to some Hong Kong players on amateur contracts, but all are rejected. I even try to approach a real life friend to sign for us…sadly, it ends our friendship when he rejects me.

We make an offer to add a goalkeeping coach to the staff, and before we find out if he accepts or not, we face Southern District Recreation & Sports Association in game week three. The bookies favourite for the title, Kitchee, find themselves in 6th place and face current league leaders Hong Kong FC. We take an early lead when Cheung Lik Hang scores in the 14th minute, before Leung Chong Yip adds a second just three minutes later. Things do take a turn around the half hour mark when Cheung Wai Fung picks up his second yellow of the game. This doesn't hold us back, and almost instantly we make it 3-0 when my right back comes out of nowhere to smash it home from the edge of the area. As I discuss with the one other person on the bench about what we should do, we pick up our fourth yellow of the game inside 35 minutes. I remind the AssMan to warn to players to calm down, and we decide to make a slight change to the tactics. We are pegged back just after the hour and a consolation goal is scored in the 91st minute to make it 3-2, but it isn't enough and we jump up to second in the league behind Hong Kong FC (who have beaten Kitchee). 

Obviously we have some talent in the squad, but we lack quality and depth. A better quality striker is an urgent need, and some steel in defense is something we need to consider. We are allowed up to six foreign players in the match day squad, so it might be time to look at what is out there and who might be interested in signing for us. Whether you consider it frugal or sensible is a subjective choice, but loans and free agents are the preferred choice. I can't help but feel a chunk of the transfer budget will be needed to increase our wages on offer, and we might still need to replace a significant number of players. 

We have just two days until we play our fourth league game. A quick glance across the transfer screen, and I pick a few players to throw bids in for players who all look like they can replace their count parts in my team. Eastern District have a Brazilian defender called Victor Balduino, Happy Valley have a veteran defender called Brian Fok, and Hong Kong FC have an English fullback called Rory Lonergan. Fok is offered a trial, whereas Balduino and Lonergan are offered contracts on free transfers. A defensive midfielder called Amadou Parfait is offered a trial, and a contract is offered to Sint Maarten striker Jean-Jacques Craane. 

Will these players add the required depth to make a challenge for the title? Or will they struggle to find their form? Only time will tell. 

For now, Fem out.

Club Development

After a busy few days, the plans for the club seem to be developing. Thanks to the arrival of my new right-hand man searching for staff and players has become a huge amount easier. Which is great news for us. Offers are thrown out left, right and center in the hopes of adding more depth to the club and more faces around the training ground. Fairly soon the staff team has grown again, and I have added the following faces to my backroom team:

Perhaps most impressively there's enough of us for a monthly staff meeting! I can't believe I have got excited at that prospect…

Anyway, we have our first big challenge on the horizon. The arrival of arguably the biggest team in the league and the favourites for the title, Kitchee. They've won 10 of the last 15 league titles, but find themselves out of form and in mid-table with 4 points from 3 games. If ever the verb FMed was appropriate, it is for a game like this.

Thankfully for us, we are able to complete the signing of Jean-Jacques Craane in time to register him for the game. The squad desperately needed some quality upfront if we were to mount an assault on the top of the league, and hopefully Craane might just be able to kick on for us. He won't start against Kitchee, but he will feature at some point.

We make one (enforced) change due to the red card in the previous game, and head into game week four knowing a win will keep us level on points with Hong Kong FC at the top of the table. 

It's a very close first half, with not much between the two sides. Our striker takes a knock early on in the half, but we continue with him as we want to ease Craane in. There are some tired bodies out there, and changes will be made at the break. But, just before half-time, a clearance from the Kitchee keeper is launched towards the half-way line, and headed into the path of Leung Chong Yip on the wing by Mitchell…Yip carries it forward ten yards and unleashes a shot with the outside of his right foot…which flies into the top corner! And we go in ahead by one! And after a fairly balanced second half, South China are able to hold onto the single goal lead and take all three points. Craane does make his debut, but fails to impress getting a 6.4 match rating. Hopefully we will see more from him soon. 

Wake Me Up When September Ends

The month of September continues to bring much change to South China. More new faces come through the door players joining the club as we look to add quality to the team. It will be a new look back-four having added a new goalkeeper in the form of Chin Siu Sum, fullback Rory Lonergan, and central defenders Victor Balduino and Jordan Doherty, as well as a hugely talented Mexican midfielder Alberto Rodriguez. 

Game week five sees a trip to Lee Man on the cards, and we hand out three full debuts and a first start for Craane. It becomes a very long day for the team that find themselves in 12th place as our unbeaten march continues with a 5-0 win, extending our run to five wins in a row. 

Game week six sees a battle at the top, as 2nd played 3rd place, with us hosting Hong Kong FC. New signing Amadou Parfait is ruled out as is left back Shiu Tsz Long. It's a difficult start for South China, as HKFC are awarded a penalty in the 11th minute and we find ourselves behind for the first time this season. But, on the stroke of half-time, we strike back. A great free kick routine as Hara plays it short to Craane on the edge of the box who curls one into the top corner from 18 yards out. Craane doubles the lead in the 52nd minute, with a real poachers effort, but it doesn't take long for HKFC to equalise after a mazy run and clipped cross is headed home. It ends 2-2 in a fairly balanced game, and we remain a point behind Biu Chun Rangers, but with a game in hand. 

As the month comes it's penultimate week, the board allow us to appoint a new scout and another fitness coach, and then disaster strikes. Our star winger, Kenta Hara, is ruled out for between 6 and 7 weeks with a hernia. We have twelve days before the window closes, and might be forced to delve into the market for a replacement. There's one match left in September (a Sapling Cup Group B game against Kitchee), before a run of four games in seventeen days. Amadou Parfait has taken another minor knock and is unlikely to face Kitchee either as the injury list grows. 

With October looming, a decent run of form in the league, and now two further competitions and opportunities for success, decisions need to be made. Success in the cup tournaments will mean some prize money and (more importantly) padding out my CV, which will give me more bargaining power with the board and hopefully the ability to request a coaching badge. But a good league run is essential to qualification for the AFC Continental competitions.

A Wild Run

Twenty-nine days. Six games. Three competitions. A real make it or break it period for us, especially with the transfer window closing in a matter of days.

Game One (26th September 2026) - South China vs. Kitchee (Sapling Cup Group B)

The first of our games and a number of enforced changes. The competition requires three Under 22 players in the starting XI at all times. Throw in the injuries we are facing, and we are forced to make four changes. Kitchee remain one of the biggest clubs in Hong Kong, and the first half of the game is tight and ends 0-0. However, in the second half, the floodgates open and our dominance pays off. The game finishes 4-0, with Luke Mitchell getting his first two goals for the club. A really unexpected win, and a dominant performance. Just what we need!

Back to the drawing board as we continue preparations. We desperately need competition at right back, and one of our scouts suggests Yeung Hin Lok. The report claims he's better than our current starting right back, and worlds ahead of our next best. What's more, he knows the club having come through the ranks at South China. We decide it's time to bring him home, and throw down a bid of £9.5k for him, which is promptly accepted by his club. The contract is signed, sealed, delivered, and he joins the club. We make offers on several more players in our scramble to add depth and quality in depth to the team, including a really bright looking Brazilian attacker. We add a versatile Hong Kong midfielder and winger, and can finally move some of the deadwood out of the first team. And we also see Craane named player of the month, and three of our lads picked for the team of the month too. We complete the final few transfers for the targets we identify, and welcome to the Shaolin Temple Brazilian attacker Joabe Brito, who looks like he could go on to become a very tasty player for us. And with that, the transfer window slams shut.

Game Two (7th October 2026) - South China vs. Wofoo Tai Po (Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield First Round)

On the eve of this game one of our young central defenders gets injured in a reserve game, and will be out for around 3 weeks, which is not ideal 24 hours after the window closes. Alas, we move on. We need to ring the changes to prevent further injuries, so we make four changes (including two full debuts) to the XI and give Craane a rest. Whilst we wait for Lonergan to learn some Cantonese, we can only field 11 subs out of 12 due to the restrictions on foreign players. The assistant manager suggests going for the jugular, and I am only too happy to oblige. After 22 minutes we are awarded a penalty, and Rodriguez converts to give us the lead with his first ever goal for us. And, in first-half stoppage time, Wofoo fail to clear a corner properly, and the ball is squared to Tasaka who finishes first-time from the edge of the box to give us a 2-0 lead into half-time. The bullet of a volley is a welcome sight! We make three changes to provide further rests to important players, and then give further minutes to players returning from injury. Brito has a goal disallowed after being flagged for offside just before the hour and, despite our dominance, the game ends just 2-0. One of our debutants also picks up a knock that might keep him our for two weeks, and I head back to my office to scream into a cushion.

Game Three (10th October 2026) - North District vs. South China (Sapling Cup Group B)

It has been two days since our last game, and despite the momentum behind us, the injuries are starting to creep in. The Sapling Cup dictates we must have no more than six foreign players (standard across most competitions in Hong Kong) and a minimum of three under-22 Hong Kong players in the starting XI at any given time. Thankfully, we have a couple of reasonable younger players who can step in. Three changes in defence, three in midfield, and a striker swap are made to try and keep the squad fresh and competitive. 

We come into the game topping our group, but North District are in second place on goal difference. It looks to be a tight game. That is…until the 4th minute. New Brazilian forward Brito swings a corner in, defender Jordan Doherty (our only Hong Kong Under-20 international) heads it goalwards, and it is poked home by new boy Yeung Hin Lok.  On 30 minutes, youth teamer Jon Futcher (another Hong Kong native) breaks into the box, finds Brito, who finishes for his first goal. Hopefully of many. We score another well worked team goal in the 72nd minute, before Brito added a fourth literally 30 seconds later, after we immediately dispossessed North District from the kick off.  And it proved important too, after reports came in of Hong Kong FC having put five goals past Wofoo Tai Po. The top of this group may well be decided on goal difference, and that fourth gave us the edge back as we clung onto first place with our fingertips. We didn't have to fret for too long, as another first goal was secured in the 80th minute, with Yue Yixing heading home our fifth of the day. North District do claw back a consolation goal after 85 minutes after some lapsed defending, but the game ends comfortably at 1-5. 

Game Four (15th October 2026) - Central & Western District vs. South China (HKFA Cup First Round)

The board have rejected my request for a coaching course, citing a fear I might be snapped up by a bigger club. No drama, but I am determined to get some kind of coaching badge soon. We make it to the 15th relatively unscathed, but Joabe Brito is ruled out with a groin strain for the next three or four weeks. We still have five other players ruled out with injuries, and a league game in less than 48 hours, so squad management is key. We make eleven changes, and hope for the best. C&W are on a horrible run, having lost eight and drawn one game this season. But, we all know how those runs tend to go in FM…

Sure enough, the FM Gods are keeping an eye on this game. After 12 minutes C&W strike first, heading home a deep cross and taking the lead. Thankfully, the team that has conceded 30 goals in 9 games continued to have a leaky defence, and we equalise in the 27th minute. And that's how the game ends, and we get the last thing we need…30 more minutes of football. We throw caution to the wind, and throw on Craane for the second half of extra-time as it is still 1-1. We score after 50 seconds, and have a nervy few minutes trying to see out the game. Chong Yip adds a third, before wrapping up a hat-trick and giving us a 4-1 win. We get the result, but at what cost?

Game Five (17th October 2026) - South China vs. Biu Chun Rovers (BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League)

A top of the table clash as we welcome current league leaders Biu Chun Rovers to the Hong Kong Stadium. They have a point advantage, but we have a game in hand. A positive result here would keep our hopes of AFC CL football alive. We go with the strongest line up we have, and hope our good form can continue.

BCR strike first, and take the lead in the 11th minute. It takes a bit of magic from Japanese midfielder Takuya Tasaka, who equalises from 20 yards out less than ten minutes later with his third of the season, and the game is back on level footing. And the magic continues, when BCR re-take the lead thanks to a wonderful striker from Ferro, and the first-half ends 2-1 to the league leaders. We might be edging the stats, but they lead in the only stat that actually matters. We continue to play good football and press for a second, but BCR's backline seems to be up to the challenge. As things stand, they now have a four point lead over us, and we've dropped into third place. The frustration is palpable. In the 81st minute, we see a beautiful move with Mitchell being put through on the edge of the box and his cross to the back post finds Cheung Lik Hang who slides it home. However, the assistant has his flag up and the goal is chalked out for offside. The referee is called over to the VAR screen, and we begin to make peace with the fact it might not be our day. But, the referee turns around…AND AWARDS THE GOAL! WE ARE BACK IN IT! If I'm honest, I think he might be offside, but I am not challenging the call! It gives us a vital point in this busy October run, and keeps us in the fight, and we extend our unbeaten run to seven games.

Game Six (24th October 2026) - Hong Kong U23s vs. South China (BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League)

The lord giveth, and the lord taketh away. One player returns to full training, and we lose two more. New keeper Chin Siu Sum will miss four days with food poisoning, and new fullback Yeung Hin Lok is ruled out for three weeks with a pulled back muscle. Sum might be back in time for the game, but who knows what state he'll be in? Still, the good news continues as two more players return to full training for us in the buildup to the next game, and we have more options available to us. 

We make a couple of enforced changes, and head into our eighth game of the season. This is our game in hand, and we trail by a point, so a win will see us take top spot. And we take the lead just before half-time thanks to a curling shot from Jordan Akrigg. The former Marine lad gives us an important lead. And it's that man again deep into the second half, who finds the run of Lonergan who finds the net from a tight angle, and extends our lead, and gives us the win. We are top of the league! And an excellent performance from the 18-year old Englishman. And that win also extends our unbeaten record to twelve games in all competitions. 

Game Seven (31st October 2026) - Hong Kong U23s vs. South China (Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield Quarter Final)

Deja vu, anyone? Our preparations are rocked by a falling out between the management and Luke Mitchell after his contract extension clause is triggered. Evidently, despite being top of the league and still in all the cup competitions, the 20-year old midfielder is desperate to win trophies and doesn't think it will happen here. We try and persuade him, even promising the league title this year…no mas. Well, Pontus Fem does not give a single, solitary toss what Luke Mitchell thinks, and he'll either force his way out for the release clause in his contract (I hope not) or he'll be forced to come round. A few games on the bench might make him see sense. This blow is softened by the return of (probably) our best player in Kenta Hara, who resumes full training just in time to remind Mitchell he might not be as important as he thinks he is. Bugger. A Japanese third division team has offered Hara a contract and the chance to return to Japan. I don't fancy my chances at keeping him, and he won't negotiate a new deal. Maybe I will need to share a slice of humble pie with Mitchell after all…? Either way, I dispatch a scout to look at Matt Orr who is currently a free agent, and a Hong Kong international, to see whether he might be financially viable.

The final game of the month is on the horizon. It's been a mixed bag off the field, but a cracking month of results. Who knows how October will finish. Let's hope it brings some positivity. 

NOVEMBER HAS COME

The final days of October are a mixed bag. We finally find a sports scientist to help support the Under 23 squad, which hopefully should help with some of the injury problems we've had. The board agree that our youth facilities (currently rated 3) need investment, and commit to a £250k upgrade, to be completed by March 2027. Huge for us and a testament to the commitment of the board, especially as the club is only valued at £2.08k. However, Kenta Hara has agreed to return to Japan on a free transfer. It's a blow, but at 30 years-old I don't begrudge him the move. I just regret not realising the state of his contract sooner. It does prompt us to negotiate a new deal for our backup keeper, who was previously on an amateur contract, just to tie him in and to avoid a repeat of the Kenta saga. 

We agree to take a young Uruguayan defender on trial who we have been looking at few a while. Limitations in the squad with the number of foreign players meant we've held back, but with the move for Hara, there may well be a space in the squad soon. My scouts and coaching team believe he's already the best defender in the squad, and has huge potential for growth.

The scouts also report that Matt Orr, who is a fraction less talented than Hara, would command betweeen £800 and £1100 per week…that would be double what my highest paid player is on. 

We are left with the decision for the final foreign squad…splash out on the native winger, break the wage budget, but have a big name and a current international and quality cover for two positions, which allows us to sign the super talented young defender OR spend some money and sign an overseas winger to replace Hara. There is a third option, which is to throw the current 4-2-3-1 formation out of the window, and switch to a whole new play style. Not a great option for a January, but we have two months until the window opens, and the potential in the squad to begin switching to another system slowly and embed it ready for the window. 

Game Seven (31st October 2026) - Hong Kong U23s vs. South China (Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield Quarter Final)

The final game of this torrid month. We have seven games left of 2026 (three in November, four in December), so a good result will put us one step closer to some silverware. A trophy this year would be the icing on the cake for us, and we are still competing on all fronts. Our physio reports that almost every injured player is capable of playing some part in this game, and we might use it as an opportunity to give some game time to a few of them. 

There's just a single change to the lineup, but a bench stacked with players needing match fitness, and we kick off against Hong Kong U23s. Against my better judgement, Mitchell does start. In the 40th minute, Yip makes a mazy run down the left and finds Craane in the six-yard box, who fires home to give us a lead. Despite our dominance, Hong Kong get an equaliser in the 66th minute, before Craane has a goal ruled out for offside. And for the second time in October, we are taken to extra-time. And it takes until the 109th minute to see another goal. A deep freekick is taken by the returning Shiu Tsz Long, which finds Mitchell free in the area, who volleys home for the lead! And we hold on to make October a near-perfect month.

NOVEMBER 2026

November kicks off with a game against Southern District in the Hong Kong Senior Shield, and two fresh injuries. Thankfully, they are the only two injuries in the squad. 

Saturday 7th November 2026 - Southern District vs. South China (Hong Kong Senior Shield Semi-Final)

Two enforced changes, and the return of Brito to the bench. And it is an instant bit of glory. Luke Mitchell, who might just want to leave the club for good, wasted no time in picking the ball up, carrying it forward single-handedly, before firing it home from 20-yards out. A stunning strike from the young man. Craane has one ruled out for offside in the 8th minute, and we are firmly on top. And the good run continues in the 13th minute. A freekick from about 25-yards out hits the crossbar and finds Ho Chik Hin unmarked in the SD box, who fires home our second of the day. And the goals keep on coming. Yip adds a third, with Brito adding a fourth. It should have been five, but Rodriguez missed a penalty. Chen Ngo Hin does make it five, before Yung Ho pulls one back for Southern District. 

Monday 9th November 2026 - Injury News

And just like that, Kenta Hara's time with us is over. Despite agreeing a move home to Japan for January, we had hoped to get a little more out of the midfielder in the months before his departure. Sadly, for everyone, whilst trying to find fitness in an appearance for the reserves Hara sustained a serious hip injury that rules him out for between five and six months. He'd only just returned from a hernia. The injury forces our hand, and a contract is offered to Matt Orr, as well as one to Cristian Castro.

Saturday 14th November 2026 - Wofoo Tai Po vs. South China (Sapling Cup Group B)

We confirm the deal for Matt Orr on the eve of the game. Rory Lonergan, Takuya Tasaka and Kenta Hara are all ruled out with injuries, Jean-Jacques Craane, Jordan Doherty, and Chen Ngo Hin are all away on international duty, so there are a number of enforced changes. Having not realised trialists could appear in this competition until now, Cristian Castro does make the bench, as does new signing Matt Orr. Otherwise, a few other changes are made and the referee gets the game underway.

A penalty from Rodriguez and a strike from Cheung Lik Hang either side of a rare goal for Wofoo were enough to secure the three points and extend our lead at the top of Group B to three points. 

Our next game is in the Sapling Cup again, before we play our first league game in almost a month. It will be interesting to see if we can continue our fine form into the competition that matters the most.

Thursday 19th November 2026 - South China vs. Eastern AA (Sapling Cup Group B)

Two changes made from the last round as Doherty and Fulcher return from representing Hong Kong U20s, and they are drafted into the squad. 

However, inside five minutes, disaster strikes as Yeung Hin Lok goes down with a hand injury. Siu Pak Lam switches to right back to replace him, with Shiu Tsz Long continuing his return to fitness. And it all went downhill from there. Balduino gave away a penalty after 7 minutes, which was converted cooly by Felipe Sa. Then, his central defensive partner Doherty gave away a second penalty after 22 minutes, which was also converted by Sa. Mitchell pulls one back just before the break, but Easter AA grabbed two further late goals to secure a huge 4-1 win. Our first defeat of the season is a hugely disappointing performance all round. We top the group after 4 games with 9 points, but Hong Kong FC have a game in hand and if they win by more than one goal, they will top the group. 

Sunday 22nd November 2026 - Central & Western District [12th] vs. South China [3rd] (BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League)

There's no rest for the wicked, and we have to pick ourselves up to go again. We make a couple of changes to the team after the recent run of games has left a few players in need of a rest. Cristian Castro gets a full debut in defence, and Akrigg is given the chance to start in his preferred role in central midfield. C&W have lost four of their last five games, with South China having lost just one of their last five games.

And the shocks continue, as C&W manage to strike first! A first-time volley from the edge of the box curls into the far corner, and the home team take the lead after 14 minutes. Almost immediately, South China strike back and equalise. Akrigg intercepts it, and finds Mitchell 20 yards out, who hits an audacious shot which curls past the outstretched hand of the keeper. What a goal! In the 25th minute a poor pass from C&W's central defender Garrett is intercepted on the South China left flank. Leung Chong Yip strides forward into the box, finds Brito who volleys his shot into a defender, and falls to Mitchell just inside the box and curls his second goal of the day home. That goal gives us the lead, and more importantly, puts us top of the league and level on points with HKFC with a game in hand to boot. And in the 52nd minute the good run continues…Ma Hei Wai slides a gorgeous path into the oncoming Brito, whose first touch takes him away from two defenders and into so much space he can take his time, line up a shot, and fire home to give a two-goal cushion. Orr gets his first for the club and our fourth not much later to secure the three points. And the fans are understandably delighted!

OFFICIAL CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT

Sunday, 29th November 2026

On behalf of the chairman of South China Athletic Association, Sze Ho Yin, we are delighted to announce that Pontus Fem has accepted a contract extension that will keep him with the Shaolin Temple for a further two years. The Swede, who had seven months left to run on his initial deal, has been offered a deal that will run until the end of the 2027/2028 season after his phenomenal start to the season. 

Upon signing the deal, our chairman was full of praise for the manager. Mr Fem has asked us to release the following statement on his behalf:

“I am thrilled to be offered the chance to extend my stay here in Hong Kong. Whilst this is my first job in management, I am ecstatic at the faith the club has put in me, and I am excited at the prospect of continuing what we have started. The fact the club were willing to show a commitment to me, initially by offering me the chance to manage here, but also by extending that offer. I hope I can repay their faith by bringing some much deserved success to the fans here."

The Festive Period Arrives

Tuesday 1st December 2026 - South China [1st] vs. Eastern AA [5th] (BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League)

With the games beginning to ease off, and our next game not for 11 days, we have some breathing room and the chance to field a strong team. Matt Orr is out with the flu, and the only other injury we have is Kenta Hara. Brito drops to left wing, and Craane returns to lead the line as we look to continue our unbeaten league form. 

But, despite the strong squad and the new contract, it's not a great start by South China. We find ourselves behind after 17 minutes. And despite dominating possession, we can't turn that into anything. An otherwise even game, which Eastern AA edge. We cling onto top spot in the league, but lose our chance to take advantage of the game in hand, and our undefeated run ends at nine games.