Hong Kong footballer Jay Haddow making peace with sacrificing Japanese passport
Defender obtained citizenship last July, performed well and created goal in Chinese New Year Cup victory over FC Seoul
Jay Haddow said that reflecting on his decision to surrender Japanese citizenship “was always tough”, but the talented defender is convinced that obtaining a Hong Kong passport was the right call.
Naturalised after a prolonged process last July, Haddow supplied the cross for fellow Kitchee player Juninho to open the scoring against FC Seoul on Saturday, as Hong Kong won the Chinese New Year Cup on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Born in Hong Kong to a Japanese mother and British father, Haddow, 21, left for England at 12. He returned to join Kitchee in 2024 after his time with Championship club Blackburn Rovers ended unhappily. Haddow had dual British and Japanese nationality before making the “huge decision” to declare for Hong Kong.
“Giving up my Japanese passport, especially, will always be tough when I think about it, but I know I made the right decision,” Haddow said, although he acknowledged he was talking in the glow of victory over Seoul.
“I know from how my time in England ended on a sour note that in football you can be very high one week, then the next you’re rock bottom.
“There will be times where I’ll be thinking [changing his passport] was a fantastic decision, and others when I’ll be contemplating my career [path], but that’s part of the game.”