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2024–25 Ends:
We conclude the latest season with Eastern in Hong Kong. With the Senior Challenge Shield already in the bag, we aim to win a domestic treble with an FA Cup semi-final to face and, of course, the title at battle; in which we currently trail South China by one point with five matches to play.

Our first opponents were bottom of the table and eventual relegated side Citizen, we eased past them to record a 4–1 home victory with goals from Darren Whitehead, Lee Kai Chi, Chan Ho Yin and Yeung Chun Heung I; all goals coming in the first half. That's something we have been incredible at this season, we've scored a crazy amount of first half goals. That wasn't the case, however, in our next fixture against Southern District as they held us to a goalless tie.

Back-to-back friendly wins over Lucky Mile and Yan Po followed before we had a big FA Cup semi-final versus South China. We reached the FA Cup final for the second time in my two and a half year tenure after a brace from Yeung Chun Hung I (against his former club!), excellent performance and we'll face Southern District in May's final. Talking of Southern District, we had the same result after the cup semi-final to which we had with them - a 0–0 draw, this time with Pegasus. KCC Dragons played us in a friendly on 19 April but lost 0–5.

Despite dropping points in our last two fixtures, South China failed to make us pay and we subsequently sat level on points with them, in first due to head-to-head, with a game in hand and only two matches to play. That game in hand came a day after their fixture, versus Sun Hei. South China had failed to win meaning we could secure the Premier League title with a win against Sun Hei. Could we do it?



^^Click "Show Spoiler" before scrolling down. ^^


With the league secured, we could turn attentions to the FA Cup final in three weeks time. Before that, we participated in two matches. First one was a friendly where we got a 0–2 win over Eastern District, second came a week later when we finished our league campaign in absolute style as we destroyed fifth place Tai Po by seven goals to two! 2–7! Unbelievable result, a real fitting way to end a wonderful season. Now, for the FA Cup final...



^^Click "Show Spoiler" before scrolling down. ^^


Results:


League Overview:


Squad Statistics:


Before I get into the records and awards from the season, there is two pieces of news to share first. 1. Izwan Mahbud has left the club. He has joined Home United for £20k. A real shame to see him go, but good luck to him back home; Kamarudin seems a good replacement. 2. I have signed a new one-year contract with Eastern, taking my stay with them until (hopefully) June 2026. At this moment in time, I plan on leaving at the end of that season. This gives me a chance at a few new cups (that you enter after winning the league) and, obviously, the AFC Champions League; where we enter at the first qualifying round.

Izwan Mahbud Leaves:


New Contract:


There's been a bunch of awards and records, they all can be seen below. Most notably include the club's end of season awards where Darren Whitehead won Fans' Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season. We also broke the record for Eastern's most goals in a Premier League season of 42 (well, now 49 after that last day barrage of goals vs. Tai Po).

Awards: Club's End of Season:


Awards: Chan Ho Yin - Footballer of the Year:


Awards: Darren Whitehead - Young Player of the Year:


Awards: Premier League Team of the Month for April:


Awards: Premier League Best XI for 2024–25:


Awards: Chan Ho Yin & Yeung Chun Hung I - Premier League Top Goalscorers:


Awards: Yeung Chun Hung I - Premier League Fans' & Players' Player of the Year:


Awards: Li Ngai Hoi - League Cup Best Defensive Player:


Awards: Lo Tsz Kin - FA Cup Top Goalscorer:


Records: Chan Ho Yin Breaks Club's Assist Record:


Records: Tai Po 2–7 Eastern - New Goals Record For Club and League:


Records: Most Goals in a Season for Eastern:


A lot of awards/records! Thank you for reading this update of my Journeyman's Journey save. Looking forward to next season already.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.
2025 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) Senior Challenge Shield.
2025 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) Premier League.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Regular Season Nears Its End:
Hello! In this update, we play fixtures from the first two and a bit months of 2025. It includes four friendlies, six Premier League fixtures as well as three different cup competitions coming into play.

Friendlies kicked off the year, two of them. The first we actually lost, vs. Tsuen Wan but we bounced back to win the other against Hong Kong University 70s. Yau Tsim Mong, who despite being the promoted side are playing very well this season sitting mid-table, played us on 18 January 2025, they held us to a tight two-two draw back in September 2024 but this time around it was anything but close as we trounced them 6–0; goals coming via Clinton Britz, Chan Chun Lok (x2), Darren Whitehead, a Cheung Kai Cheong own-goal and Yeung Chung Hung I - five of those goals ridiculously came in just 37 first half minutes.

If that was a high, we suffered a low next time out as we exited the League Cup at the hands of our league rivals South China, being easily beat 3–0. Our heads were likely switched due to the Senior Challenge Shield final coming just days later. We faced Hong Kong Rangers in the aforementioned final and, just like last season's continental play-off semi-final, it went all the way to penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.



^^Click "Show Spoiler" before scrolling down. ^^


Back to league action, we played leaders South China in a vital, vital encounter on 2 February. In what was a narrow contest, it took a Chan Ho Yin strike to win us the three points! This took us top of the Premier League table. Another tricky fixture fell right after, versus Kitchee. It was the same outcome as Chan Ho Yin got us the victory. Sadly, after taking steps forward we took steps back after losing 3–1 to Hong Kong Rangers; they actually led 3–0 but that was thanks to two penalties.

Next came our opening FA Cup tie, a quarter-final with Yau Tsim Mong. We beat them for the second time running but this time it was just the 2–1 win rather than a 6–0 - can't be greedy! A double from Lo Tsz Kin puts us through to the semi-finals where we will meet South China. Tough! We lost our second league match running after that cup win as we were beaten by Tai Po 1–2, very predictable result after we had over twenty shots but kept missing every single chance. Disappointing to lose back-to-back in the Premier League, around this point we were six points clear of South China but they had three (!) games in hand.

Our last league game of this update came against Metro Gallery, the recent champions who sit down the bottom. Chan Ho Yin and Yeung Chun Hung I got goals to secure the points. We round off with two friendly victories over BC Glory Sky and Hong Nam. Remember those three matches South China had in hand? They've now been played and thankfully they only got four points from a possible nine.

That means, although South China go top by a point, we remain very close and have the first two tiebreakers in our favour: head-to-head (two wins) and goal difference (+23 for us, +9 for them). That's a positive, but will mean absolutely zero if we can't at least get level with them. Five matches left to play!

Results:


League Overview:


Squad Statistics:


More Izwan Mahbud news, it's becoming a regular feature at the moment. At the beginning of these two months we wanted to leave, then he changed his mind to stay and by the end of it he wants out again. Long story. Here we go:

Tampines Rovers interest made him complain to me about leaving, I said I'll let him go if they right offer comes, nothing comes in so he stays and says he no longer wants to leave. Around a month passes before he comes back to me stating he just wants to leave due to homesickness, not due to interest. I end up agreeing to let him go in the next transfer window, to which he is absolutely fine with. Then Home United (ironic name) come in with offers to sign him immediately (not in the next transfer window), to no retaliation from Mahbud.

I continue to reject the offers as: A) Not the right fee, and B) It isn't the next transfer window to which we agreed. Apparently that meant nothing as, despite me breaking no promises to Mahbud, he ends up getting annoyed for me not letting him go AND the squad turn on me for "bad treatment". Thankfully, I managed to turn Mahbud and the squad around as long as he goes next time we get an offer. It doesn't end there either really, Mahbud actually got injured in the middle of all this (suspicious ) so I had to sign a new 'keeper as I didn't feel confident with my young GKs, especially for a pending game versus South China. So, Malaysian Nazri Kamarudin was signed on a free transfer. He has done well to be fair to him!

What a mess! One of those things, I guess!

Mahbud Mess:





New GK Signed:


Lastly, on a much more happier note, that young man Chan Ho Yin won the Senior Challenge Shield's top goalscorer award. He is outstanding! Since the season I joined (two half a seasons and one full season) he has scored 41 goals in 60 matches in all competitions, he is only eighteen years old! Fantastic little player.

Senior Challenge Shield: Top Goalscorer - Chan Ho Yin:


Thanks for reading! I'll return at the regular season's end, hopefully that will be the end with the league title and we won't have to go through the play-offs for continental football like last season. Who knows! Have a nice day!

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 2 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.
2025 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) Senior Challenge Shield.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Update 39:
Update 39 of my Journeyman's Journey save on Football Manager 2017. In this one, we end the year that was 2024 in Hong Kong with Eastern.

Metro Gallery gave us our first match of November 2024 in the league, we sneaked past them to record three points thanks to an own-goal nine minutes from time from Chan Tsz Leung. After beating Metro Gallery at home, we were again on our own turf as we faced Kitchee but this time we were held as we drew with two goals apiece; Clinton Britz and Cheng Ming Fung (first career league goal for Eastern) scored. A friendly with Shenzhen Nanshan took place on 16 November and we won 0–4.

Our first competitive away game of the month came a week later as we visited Southern District, we came away disappointed as we tied 1–1. Another friendly came (0–2 win vs. Fan Weng Wui) before we took on Pegasus in a dead rubber League Cup group stage contest, both of us were out but still with a chance of the semi-finals via the Second Stage; groups contain three teams, play two games each, top team goes to semi-finals, rest go through a different stage with overall winner getting a semi-final spot. So, it didn't mean much but it was still annoying to see us lose 0–1.

That was the first of three meets with Pegasus this month, as we were drawn with them in the aforementioned Second Stage. We returned to league action on 13 December to meet Sun Hei, we exited the match with all the points as we dismantled the then third place side 0–5. Chan Ho Yin and Yeung Chun Hung I grabbed a brace each in what was a fantastic display. Next came Pegasus in the league and, just like the League Cup encounter, we lost by a single goal at home. Frustrating!

Three days later saw the League Cup next stage match-up with Pegasus, this time we easily beat them 0–2 to go through to the next round of the Second Stage; where we will face current league leaders South China. 2024 ended with our biggest match of the two months as we played Kitchee to battle for a spot in the Senior Challenge Shield final. We, surprisingly, made light work of Kitchee and eased through to the final after wining 3–0, Darren Whitehead, Leonardo Muñoz and Chan Ho Yin getting the goals. The final will take place on 26 January 2025 against Hong Kong Rangers.

So, that's that. After nine Premier League fixtures down, we are second in the table and three points off South China. Work to do! We do face South China at the beginning of February, so win that and it could be vital as the first tiebreaker in the league is head-to-head; we beat them 0–4 earlier in the season so it could turn out important. We are still in all the cup competitions, final of the Senior Challenge Shield while still in contention for the League Cup; FA Cup yet to start.

Results:


League Overview:


Squad Statistics:


Talking of the Senior Challenge Shield, off-season signing Lo Tsz Kin broke the record of most assists (four) in the competition while, us as a club, set a record for most goals scored in the very same tournament; twelve goals for us beats Hong Kong's record of nine. Back in the league, we have had players in both months' Team of the Month awards.

Some Izwan Mahbud (Singaporean no. 1 goalkeeper) news to share. I mentioned when I managed him at Persib, my past club, he moaned about homesickness twice and I was worried he'd do it again. Well, he kinda has. Singaporean team Tampines Rovers are interested in him, that triggered him to ask about joining them to return home to his family. I said he could if they offered the right fee, thankfully no offer has come in as of right now.

Senior Challenge Shield Records:



Premier League Team of the Months



Izwan Mahbud Moans (Part 3):


Thanks for reading! Update 40 will come on 11 March 2025.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 1 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

2024–25 Begins:
Welcome to my latest update for my Football Manager 2017 save. In this one, we kickstart the new Hong Kong Premier League season with Eastern. We come off a disappointing first full season with Eastern in which we missed the league title by four points and failed to gain AFC Cup football via the play-offs, one plus was that we won the League Cup, though. Talking of last season, the awards from 2023–24 can be seen below, as can the season expectations for this season; the board now want AFC Cup qualification instead of just a top half finish.

Last Season Awards:


This Season Expectations:


We had a busy transfer period, six players were signed while fourteen players left. Nigerian striker Emeka Jimoh joined first, on a free from Citizen. Following him was Chan Siu Kwan, a back-up central midfield option; £1k initial fee. Lee Kai Chi joined on the same day, our new first-choice central defender, hefty price of £20k but I really wanted a better centre-back to partner Leonardo Muñoz; he is versatile too. Happy with him. Lo Tsz Kin (CM) and Lau Chi Hung (GK) later joined on free transfers. Former is another midfield option, latter is my new back-up goalkeeper as we've let two GKs leave the club. Finally, Leung Nok Hang's loan from Balestier Khalsa has been extended by another year.

In regards to the outs, I'd say only six are notable. Young Spanish striker Marco Calavia joined Southern District at the end of his contract, decent-looking attacker but one who didn't fit my team plus the foreigner limit affected his chances massively. Wempy Obure, as mentioned before, has officially joined Hong Kong Rangers. Other 'keeper Xing Yu left us to join promoted Yau Tsim Mong on loan, Thai international Sarot Pakbud and defender Wong Wing Sum joined Sun Hei on loan while Leung Ming Kit went to new affiliate club Sparta Rotterdam Mutual on a temporary basis. On Pakbud: I would've played him, but that foreigner limit meant he had no place in my line-up.

Transfers:


New Affiliate Club:


Pre-season, as always, got the season going as we faced seven different opponents. A trip to mainland China was on the agenda first, with a trio of wins over Guangzhou Jiujia, Guangzhou Renbao and Zhongshan Fengyun. We returned home to host the inaugural friendly Mong Kong Stadium Cup, in which we ended up placing third after defeat in the semi-finals with a very rotated side due to the secondary match coming just one day later. Benfica, of Macau, and Bógang, of China, wrapped up our pre-season preparations.

The important stuff got underway on 15 September as we played our opening Premier League encounter. We faced newly promoted Yau Tsim Mong and they got off to a good start in the top-flight as they held us to a 2–2 tie, new signing Emeka Jimoh grabbing us a point on his debut. Hong Kong Rangers, a side that just escaped relegation last season, visited us on Matchday 2 and were easily beaten by three clear goals after Darren Whitehead, new signing Lo Tsz Kin and left-back Li Ngai Hoi scored.

Our Senior Challenge Shield campaign got going on 25 September, a competition I want to do well in especially after we exited at the first hurdle last season. Reigning league champions Metro Gallery were our opponents and we absolutely battered them to win 5–1, we were 5–0 ahead after just twenty-four minutes! Chan Ho Yin scored four times! It was a extremely odd start, all five goals came from five shots. One of those games, I'll certainly take it! We continued that sensational form into the next match versus South China as we won 0–4, Whitehead getting two in what was my 300th game in management.

We scored four goals again next time out in a quarter-final tie in the Senior Challenge Shield versus Citizen, Tam Ho Ming rounding that victory off with his second goal in two matches. Back-to-back exhibition games happened on 13 and 20 October, both ended five goals to one. The first, we lost to top Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F but won the second against the aforementioned Sparta Rotterdam Mutual. We got whipped by R&F, but it was good to come up against a strong side in a friendly for once.

October 2024's penultimate fixture was the first League Cup match of the season and our first meet with Kitchee of 2024–25. It ended in defeat as Kitchee edged a seven-goal thriller, not an ideal result but we did field a very weakened line-up due to a more important Premier League fixture coming three days later. Decent display from the back-ups in truth, tricky match-up. Lastly, Citizen gave us our last test of October but in truth, it wasn't much of a test as we stormed past them to win 1–6, Chan Ho Yin scored his second hat-trick of the campaign. They are the bottom side in the league, but it was nice to get redemption against the side who ended our title hopes in 2023–24 after beating us 4–0.

Just four league games played, but it's been a busy two months. South China lead the way in the Premier League, two points clear of us but we have a game in hand. We are into the semi-finals of the Senior Challenge Shield, face that team Kitchee once again. We have work to do in the League Cup, but even if we don't finish top of the group we still get a chance as we'd enter the Second Stage which can still lead to a semi-final berth.

Results:


League Overview:


300 Games!


Squad statistics are below. Darren Whitehead won the league's Player of the Month award for September, we got five players in that month's Team of the Month. Also in September, Chan Ho Yin broke two goalscoring records after those four goals in the Senior Challenge Shield versus Metro Gallery.

Squad Statistics:


Premier League - September Player of the Month:


Premier League - September Team of the Month:


Chan Ho Yin Breaks Records:



Thank you for reading! A busy but fun two months, I'll return on New Year's Day 2025 with the next update.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 1 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Play-offs:
After sadly losing the league title race and finishing second in the last update, we head into the continental play-offs with third, fourth and fifth to battle it out for an AFC Cup place for next season. Let's see how we, Eastern in Hong Kong, got on.

Tai Po were our semi-final opponents and we met on 25 May 2024. In short, it was an unbelievable match. It was goalless at the break, before we took a fairly quick two-goal lead in half two on 66 mins thanks to Chan Chun Lok and Chan Ho Yin. However, no quicker were we two ahead that Tai Po clawed it back to 2–2 by 74 mins. Normal time ended just like that, so it went into extra time which started disastrously for us as Lai Wai Chung saw straight red to be sent off four minutes into the added minutes. Eight minutes later, Lee Yiu Wai gave Tai Po the lead with a free-kick. Against all the odds, as the tie looked over, we were awarded a 120 minute + penalty with a chance to take it to penalties, Chan Ho Yin stepped up to equalise. Off to a penalty shoot-out!



^Click "Show Spoiler" before scrolling down. ^^


Thanks for reading this unfortunately short update. I'll return after two months of competitive action in the 2024–25 season.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 1 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Chasing The Title:
Another update from my Journeyman's Journey career with Eastern in Hong Kong. In this one, we approach March, April and May 2024 as we aim to win the Premier League and potentially the FA and League Cups. We are currently first in the league, but it's very tight with Southern District and Metro Gallery close behind. We also face Kitchee in the semi-finals of both cup competitions.

Let's get right into it. We begin with a rather huge encounter with third place Metro Gallery. Sadly an early second half goal from Kwok Chi Kin led Metro Gallery to victory, moving them to within one point of us. Chan Ho Yin scored a hat-trick to win us a friendly over Chinese team Guangzhou Guowang on 10 March. Bottom of the table Hong Kong Rangers came to the Mong Kok Stadium next time out and frustratingly held us to a score draw, Chan Ho Yin's opener not enough. Defeat to a rival, draw to the worst team in the league. Not a good way to start March 2024, at all.

Next came the League Cup semi-final against Kitchee, the first of three meets in this update with them. In the first one, it ended in a five goal thriller but one we came out on top as goals from Darren Whitehead (x2) and Mak Ka Wai sent us to the 2024 League Cup final. Gruelling semi-final, Kitchee equalised twice but gratefully Mak Ka Wai's goal was the clincher. Macanese side Obra Social de PSP took us on in a friendly to end March, we won that 1–3. April's first fixture saw the second meet with Kitchee, this time in the FA Cup semi-finals. Unfortunately, it was Kitchee celebrating this time around as they won 2–4 to go through to the FA Cup final to meet Hong Kong; who they subsequently beat to win the tournament. We had more of the ball and more shots, but didn't make it count. Congratulations to Kitchee.

Attention turned to the League Cup final, which followed a week later. We ended up facing Citizen in the showpiece match after they knocked out Metro Gallery in the semi-finals. The final went the distance as, after 120 minutes, we couldn't be separated so it went to a penalty shoot-out. Could we hold our nerve?



^Click "Show Spoiler" before scrolling down. ^^


After the high of winning the League Cup, we returned to league action with three games to play three days later and we faced the very same opponent, Citizen. However, it was a very different outcome. They destroyed us by four goals to nil (4–0!). I have no idea what happened, they properly played us off the park. Reminiscent of the battering (6–1) I suffered versus Bhayangkara back in 2019 with Persib. Lost for words. What a performance and response to losing the League Cup final by Citizen, but deary me; a shocker from us.

With only two matches left to play, we sat five points off leaders Metro Gallery. They had just one fixture left to play, which fell in the schedule before our match against Kitchee. It was against Southern District and, sadly, they won it 0–1 to win their first-ever Premier League title. We needed them to lose as a draw wouldn't have been good enough due to the tiebreaker being head-to-head rather than goal difference. Ultra disappointing not to win the league, we should've despite a top half expectation from the board.

We still had two fixtures to fulfil and they were important as we aimed to finish inside the top five to qualify for the end of season play-offs for a potential place in the AFC Cup. Kitchee (H) and South China (A) were our last two encounters, and we came away with four points following a 2–1 win over Kitchee and a thrilling 3–3 tie with South China; we were 3–1 down in that match with South China on 80 minutes but rescued a point after two goals in two minutes, and two stunners too, from Yeung Chun Hung I and François Nguidjol. Lastly, throughout the final few weeks, we played two friendlies and won them both versus Hip Chon de Coloane and Sparta Rotterdam Mutual (satellite club of Dutch team Sparta Rotterdam) respectively.

After all of that. We ended the regular season in second place, four points off of the winners. We have qualified for the end of season play-offs though, meaning we could gain AFC Cup football next season which would be nice. We play Tai Po in a semi-final not long from now, with Kitchee or Citizen awaiting the winner. Some life in this season, yet! An AFC Cup place would turn this OK season into a good season, would go nicely with the League Cup win.

Results:


League Overview:


Play-offs Confirmed:


Squad Statistics:


A couple of awards/records have occurred. Five of our players made it into the league's Best XI, with two on the bench. Chan Ho Yin won the league's Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, while also claiming the league's Young Player of the Year award; Darren Whitehead came second in that. Lam Wai Lok won the League Cup and FA Cup's Best Defensive Player awards.

An excellent season so far for seventeen (!) year old Chan Ho Yin, he broke the club's top goalscoring record with twelve goals in twenty games; just missed the league's Top Goalscorer award by two.

Premier League - Best XI:


Premier League - Fans'/Players' Player of the Year:


Premier League - Young Player of the Year:


League Cup/FA Cup - Best Defensive Player:



Chan Ho Yin Scoring Record:


One final piece of news, an important piece. I have signed a new one-year contract with Eastern. The current deal was set to end at the end of June, I had flirted with the idea of leaving, even applied for some jobs, but I had a change of heart and accepted a contract offer from the board. I managed to get the compensation required for a club to poach me down to 20% from 50%, could come in handy you never know.

New Contract:


I'll return with another update whenever the play-offs conclude. Thanks for reading!

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 1 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2024 | Eastern -- (Hong Kong) League Cup.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Chasing Top Spot:
In this update, we take on all that January and February 2024 has to offer us with Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern. We currently sit in third place with ten games to play, Southern District lead the way at the top by four points from us with second place Metro Gallery a point clear of us. We are chasing top spot!

We began the new year with two friendly matches and secured two morale-boosting wins, firstly against German All-Stars (who aren't German) and Alfândega from Macau; 0–1 and 0–6 victories. Hong Kong gave us our first competitive test of 2024 and ran us all the way, but eventually we found the way through to score twice in five minutes to get the points. Citizen were our following opponents and they were easily beaten 3–0, Chan Ho Yin, Mohamadou Sumareh (more on him soon) and Clinton Britz getting goals.

Sun Hei done the same as Citizen and conceded three goals in a visit to the Mong Kok Stadium on 27 January, they did however get a consolation; Sumareh got on the scoresheet for us to score three goals in as many matches. Impressive from the man who had rarely featured this campaign, he has now earned himself a consistent starting place - credit to him, didn't even moan once about lack of game time which is unusual. Our three-match winning streak ended next time out as we were held by Pegasus, they earned that point and perhaps should've won but thankfully naturalised Hong Kong youth international Darren Whitehead equalised.

We faced former top-flight club BC Glory Sky in a friendly on 10 February and won 2–0. The FA Cup returned to our schedule a week later and we were drawn to face Citizen at home in the quarter-finals. An own-goal from Wong Oi Hin bailed us out and sent us through to the semi-finals, a rather woeful display despite a full strength line-up. Delighted to advance, however. We end this update with a huge encounter with top of the table Southern District. We were second coming into this one. By the end of it, we were top after a superb performance as we played Southern District off the park to record a 3–0 victory.

Heading into the final three months off the season, I and Eastern sit top of the Hong Kong Premier League table! We and third place Metro Gallery have five matches to play, while Southern District have four. Who knows, Pegasus, Tai Po and/or Kitchee could be outsiders. It is sure to be a very nervy last few months, our very next fixture is against third place Metro Gallery. We also have attention to two other competitions, we are in the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup. Our opponents? Kitchee x2! A double cup showdown awaits as well as a league meet between the two on 28 April. We face Kitchee on the penultimate day, with champions (albeit strugglers) South China on the last day. Tricky!

Squad statistics are below.

Results:


Competitions Overview:


Squad Statistics:


A bit of transfer news to share, goalkeeper Wempy Obure is leaving at the end of the season to join current basement side Hong Kong Rangers. Regrettable to see Obure leave, a good 'keeper who would've been my number one if not for the arrival of Izwan Mahbud. He'll go down as a flop considering he only signed in the off-season for £6k and hasn't yet made a league appearance, with just one cup app. to his name. A shame.

Lastly, we've had players featured in the two Team of the Month awards while the out-of-nowhere inform Gambian man Sumareh won the league's Player of the Month award for January; a sign of his rise to the first eleven.

Obure on his way:


Team of the Month - January:


Team of the Month - February:


Sumareh - Player of the Month - January:


As always, thanks for reading my career post! I'll return at the end of the season in May 2024. A potential domestic treble is on the cards, a lot of tough fixtures to come though.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 0 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.

Quick Two Months:
Welcome! In this update, we look at all the goings on with Eastern in Hong Kong during the final two months of 2023. Just six competitive fixtures to show.

After defeat last time out against Sun Hei, we aimed to get back to winning ways as we hosted Metro Gallery on Matchday 6. Unfortunately we fell to a second straight defeat as the Sham Shui Po Sports Ground outfit beat us by two clear goals, a non-performance from both sides but they took their chances and we didn't. Hong Kong Rangers played hosts next and we could only manage a two-two draw, Clinton Britz got the equaliser for us. A simple friendly win over Guangdong Youth followed.

Pegasus were our following opponents to end our group stage fixtures in the League Cup, we drew 0–0 which kept us top after our opening day win over Sun Hei; Sun Hei beat Pegasus in the group's final encounter meaning we advanced top of Group B. Monte Carlo of Macau gave us a friendly to begin December and we turned them over by winning 2–0. Next came two tough fixtures against two of the league's bigger clubs in Kitchee and South China, well on paper at least as they've both struggled; especially current champions South China who are bottom.

Chan Ho Yin scored a penalty but we could only draw with Kitchee, a competitive match-up which ended fairly drawn to be fair. South China arrived on 15 December and we beat them very late on thanks to the flukiest of own-goals by Leung Nok Hang (namesake of our striker). An important win but one we undone by losing our next match against Tai Po at home, a side we smashed 0–6 at their place on the opening day of the season. Another pretty mundane performance by us, we need to turn it up. Another easy friendly win rounded off the year, Kwai Tsing offered no challenge as we won 1–4.

Dodgy form, it pushes us from first (albeit on goal difference) in the previous post to third now. Southern District look good and lead the way with a game in hand, four points clear of us as we sit a point off of Metro Gallery. Ten league matches still to play, so time to turn it around. The board expectation is a top half finish, but honestly this club should be aiming for titles. An improvement will hopefully come. As always, squad statistics can be seen below.

One final piece of news, young Spanish defender Jesús Enrique Soria has left the club. A talented player on paper but one who has suffered with big injuries, hasn't featured much, if at all, for me due to injuries and the fact he has been moaning all season long as he wants a move to a bigger club. No-one wanted/wants him but he kept going on and on so I offered him mutual termination for a small fee and he accepted. Good riddance.

Results:


League Overview:


Squad Statistics:


Jesús Enrique Soria exit:


I appreciate you for reading my posts. 1 March 2024 will see the next update.

Cheers,
R96Skinner.

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Career so far:
2016–2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) | (Singapore/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: n/a. resigned
2018–2023 | Persib | (Indonesia/1) | Trophies: 3 / Awards: 9 / Promotions: 0 / Relegations: 0. resigned
2023– | Eastern | (Hong Kong/1) | Trophies: 0 / Awards: n/a / Promotions: n/a / Relegations: 0.

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Trophies won:
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2016 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) S. League.
2017 | Albirex Niigata (S) -- (Singapore) League Cup.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super Cup.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Super League.

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Awards won:
2018 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, June.
2019 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2020 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, October.
2021 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, May.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, July.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Month, August.
2022 | Persib -- (Indonesia) Manager of the Year.