Hong Kong women’s footballer calls for government backing as team eyes Asian Cup return
A key figure for Ricardo Rambo’s side, Vicky Chung wants to see the women’s game grow in the city as she targets role coaching men
Vicky Chung Pui-ki has called on the government to pump more money into women’s football in the city, as Hong Kong ramp up preparations for the start of their AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in late June.
In tri-series matches over the past week, the city team drew with hosts Bhutan and beat Malaysia in their last scheduled fixtures before they battle the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia for one spot in the 2026 finals in Australia.
Chung said the women’s game in Hong Kong had “grown up” since her international debut in 2017, with the head coach Ricardo Rambo’s team boasting players from leagues in England, Taiwan and mainland China. Chung had time with Scottish club Kilmarnock in the 2019-2020 season.
Nonetheless, the 27-year-old Kitchee defender, who raised the possibility of following in the footsteps of Chan Yuen-ting as a female head coach in the men’s game, lamented the absence of a full-time domestic competition in Hong Kong.
“We have so many talented young girls, but we could have more support from the government to give us the platform to promote women’s football, and we could have a professional league in Hong Kong,” Chung said.
Chung, whose team have an FA Cup final against their biggest rivals TSL on Sunday, coaches in schools to supplement her income.