Head coach Andersen unhappy with Hong Kong TV snub for Iran match

Jorn Andersen was hoping to make wholesale changes for Hong Kong’s World Cup qualifier with Turkmenistan on Tuesday, after his side lost their opening Group E fixture 4-0 in Iran.

The head coach, who criticised television companies in Hong Kong for not screening Thursday night’s match, admitted he put a premium on “mentality” when choosing his team in Tehran.

Quality is the watchword regarding selection for Turkmenistan, a game Andersen has targeted for points, amid a daunting run of fixtures.

The Norwegian was losing hope over Kitchee striker Juninho receiving a passport in time to play, while fellow Brazil-born players Stefan Pereira and Dudu are still waiting to complete their respective naturalisation processes.

Andersen tinkered with his side for the meeting with Iran, most notably leaving 19-year-old striker Michael Udebuluzor on the bench. He was without the trio of Everton Camargo, Helio Goncalves and Fernando, who have all been added to the squad for Tuesday.

“Turkmenistan is the most important game in this period, we did not have much chance in Iran,” Andersen told the Post.

“I wanted players with the mentality to compete with Iran … I chose players who could run and fight for 90 minutes.

“We need quality against Turkmenistan, and I am thinking of changing players. We will check who out of Everton, Helio and Fernando can be ready.”

The 32-year-old Juninho, who joined Kitchee from BC Rangers before this season, has completed seven years’ residency. Pereira, 35, who plays for Southern, came to the city in early 2016, and 33-year-old Lee Man centre-back Dudu arrived in July of the same year.

“We hoped all week that Juninho would get the passport,” Andersen said.

“He is waiting for papers from Brazil. Government offices close over the weekend, so we do not think he will receive it before Tuesday. If he could get it on Monday … it would be very important for us to get him used to the team, to play the last match before the Asian Cup, and help Hong Kong beat Turkmenistan.

“Stefan and Dudu are waiting. More quality creates greater competition, so players need to do more to get in the squad.”

The refreshing, front-foot approach adopted under Andersen has worked for Hong Kong, and the national team are poised for their first AFC Asian Cup finals since 1968 in January.

But the city’s television stations ignored the match in Iran, denying Hong Kong’s improving team direct entry into locals’ living rooms.

“It was a World Cup qualifier, and so close to the Asian Cup, and I was very surprised no television channel could show the match,” Andersen said.

“For a long time in Hong Kong, television companies got matches for free. But football has changed, stations have to pay for rights. That is the world today. Hong Kong has to be more professional to support football in the city.”

“We have to accept, we are in Iran, not in Europe, or East Asia,” Andersen said. “After some days here, you realise the politics and lifestyle are totally different. We have to understand how they think and live.

“A 10-minute drive takes one hour, the training field on Friday was not so bad, but it would be the worst in Hong Kong. We had difficulties with everything.”