bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Paul McNamara

Juninho has backed Hong Kong to handle the pressure of two potentially make-or-break Asian Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh this month.
Aiming to reach a second straight finals, the city team are set for their first visit to Bangladesh since a goal from current Lee Man head coach Chu Siu-kei sank the hosts back in March 2006.
After the October 9 clash in Dhaka, Hong Kong will welcome their rivals to Kai Tak Stadium on October 14. Two victories could be enough to leapfrog Group C leaders Singapore with two matches remaining.
“Every game we play for Hong Kong is important, but if we beat Bangladesh twice it will be a big step in the group for us,” Juninho said.
“We know how big this competition is for everybody,” he said. “We will fight and give our all to qualify.”
Kitchee player Juninho came to Hong Kong from his native Brazil, via a short stint in Macau, in 2016. He made his city team debut in a 2-1 friendly victory over China on New Year’s Day 2024, weeks after obtaining his passport.

The 34-year-old acknowledged that, as a naturalised player, his performances would always be keenly scrutinised by fans who this year have railed against the selection of Spain-born striker Manuel Bleda over local favourite Lau Chi-lok.
“The pressure is normal, it is there for every player in the Hong Kong team, but we always play with passion and give our best,” Juninho said.
“It’s the same with my club, where we are expected to win every match.”
It is a measure of Hong Kong’s jam-packed calendar that Juninho has gained 22 caps in the 21 months since his first appearance.
He acknowledged that his desire to reach the 2027 Asian tournament in Saudi Arabia had intensified after a thigh problem limited him to a bit-part role in last year’s finals, and said representing Hong Kong had lived up to his high expectations.
“It was my dream when I arrived in Hong Kong, and it’s always very special for me,” Juninho added. “I’m happy every time I can play, and it’s a pleasure to wear the red shirt.”

Juninho netted twice before being replaced at half-time during last month’s 8-0 drubbing of nine-man Fiji in Thailand.
He said he was not disappointed to come off despite missing a chance to run riot against reduced opposition.
While that game served little purpose as a warm-up for Bangladesh, a 2-1 loss to world No 58 team Iraq three days earlier provided competitive practice.
“We were very prepared but it came down to small details and they were smart enough to score twice at the end,” Juninho said.
“We have a great group spirit, and we always follow the coach’s instruction, which is to be aggressive and have as much possession as possible. He will give us all the information we need for Bangladesh.”
Juninho is still sporting a dressing underneath his left eye after needing 15 stitches following a pre-season training ground collision.
He completed 90 minutes for the first time this term in Kitchee’s surprise 3-2 Senior Shield defeat by North District last Sunday, his last outing before the game in Bangladesh.
“It was important for me to have those minutes, although everyone was sad about the result,” Juninho said.
“We didn’t do what we had been doing in the previous games – we made too many mistakes – but we’ll fix those and come back strong.
“Now, I need to keep fit for Hong Kong. I’ll work hard at my club and be prepared for the Bangladesh games.”


Roberto Losada to quit Eastern days after being named interim Hong Kong boss

Civil war to refugee camp to career in Hong Kong for South Sudanese footballer

Losada named Hong Kong’s interim coach as FA hunts for boss with ‘global vision’

AFC Champions League 2: Tai Po win hot-tempered clash but Eastern humiliated 9-0

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong backed to handle pressure of crunch Asian Cup clashes with Bangladesh

Juninho (right) applies pressure on defender Manaf Younis during Hong Kong’s defeat by Iraq last month. Photo: HKFA

Juninho, here in action against South Korea in July, already has 22 Hong Kong caps. Photo: Xinhua

Juninho, in his only short outing at last year’s Asian Cup, watches Everton Camargo miss a penalty. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong legend will consider international exit if Asian Cup quest ends in failure

Yapp Hung-fai captures the joyous scenes after Hong Kong beat India in their June Asian Cup qualifier at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

Yapp is ‘out on his own’ among Hong Kong keepers, according to head coach Ashley Westwood. Photo: Getty Images

Hong Kong target Kai Tak Stadium sell-out for Bangladesh clash with cheap tickets

Matchwinner Stefan Pereira celebrates with the 42,000 fans inside Kai Tak Stadium for Hong Kong’s June Asian Cup qualifying win over India. Photo: Sam Tsang

Local football chiefs hope fans fill the 50,000-seat venue for October’s meeting with Bangladesh. Photo: Elson Li

Sport

Football

Forward Juninho says team ready to take ‘big step’ towards reaching 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia


Forward Juninho says team ready to take ‘big step’ towards reaching 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia.


Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Kitchee SC

Hong Kong backed to handle pressure of crunch Asian Cup clashes with Bangladesh

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Forward Juninho says team ready to take ‘big step’ towards reaching 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia

Forward Juninho says team ready to take ‘big step’ towards reaching 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia