Fun is back in Hong Kong football under boss Andersen, star defender Yue says

Yue Tze-nam said head coach Jorn Andersen has injected fun into playing for Hong Kong, but the flying full-back admitted improvement was imperative for a prosperous AFC Asian Cup finals campaign in January.

Yue epitomised Andersen’s front-foot style in this week’s thrill-a-minute World Cup qualifying draw with Turkmenistan. The buccaneering 25-year-old incessantly zipped up and down the right flank, and supplied the cross for Wong Wai to net Hong Kong’s first equaliser.

The only blot on a stirring individual performance was the breakdown in communication with Everton Camargo that led to the visitors’ opening goal.

Yue and Camargo, who has four goals from four appearances after obtaining his passport in August, are forming a potent right-sided alliance, nonetheless, and the pair will be key figures when Hong Kong return to the Asian finals for the first time in 56 years.

Andersen has made the national team eminently watchable, a far cry from the stagnant, unambitious side he inherited two years ago.

“We enjoy playing this attacking style of football so much, and the fans like watching it, too,” Yue said.

“It gives us confidence that the coach has faith in us to play this way. He wants the full-backs to be very offensive, playing almost like wing-backs. That suits how I play, and is a big part of making Hong Kong an attacking team.

“The coach expects every player to commit to the game plan, and I need to time when I go up the pitch, and when to come back to defend.

“This match against Turkmenistan showed the progress we have made … but it can still be better.”

Andersen called the performance the best of his 19-match reign. And, in the opinion of most observers, Yue was Hong Kong’s outstanding player.

The former Eastern defender, who has accumulated 16 caps since a debut back in October 2018, was close to conjuring a grandstand finish. His long-range blast was athletically saved, before goalkeeper Rasul Charyyev denied Shinichi Chan a winning goal on the follow-up.

The disappointment for Yue, on an otherwise encouraging night, was twofold. He insisted his team did enough to win, and rued the crossed wires with Camargo – after charging forwards to send over a cross – that saw him caught upfield as Turkmenistan broke to open the scoring.

“There was a bit of miscommunication with Everton,” Yue said. “When I went up the pitch, Everton did not notice he needed to go back to cover.

“There are some new players in the team and it takes time to build relationships.

“There is a long training camp, and some friendly matches, before the Asian Cup, so there is time to concentrate on every detail.”

Yue has been engaged in a long-standing battle with Tsui Wang-kit for the right-back spot, with Andersen rotating the two men from game to game. But he is the man in possession after starting the past five games following an injury for Tsui.

Yue’s immediate task is to retain peak condition, after the Chinese Super League, in which he is a mainstay for Meizhou Hakka, wrapped up its campaign this month.

“First, I need a rest, I will go on a one-week vacation, I do not even know where yet,” he said. “I will talk to the coach as soon as I am back, then do some personal training.

“We adjust our tactics for every match, so we have lots to prepare in the training camp [beginning on December 14].

“I want to play every game, so I need to show the coach I am ready.”