Hong Kong football bosses scrambling for flights to India after Nepal friendly cancelled
City team’s preparation for final Asian Cup qualifier thrown into turmoil but phlegmatic head coach Roberto Losada keeping cool head
The local football association is navigating the “craziest Fifa window ever” after the eleventh-hour cancellation of Hong Kong’s friendly against Nepal uprooted preparations for next week’s Asian Cup qualifier in India.
Having overcome the logistical nightmare of arranging Indian visas for players, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) was given a fresh headache when its Nepalese counterparts scrapped plans for the match on Thursday because of heightening political tensions in the South Asian country.
Already managing a lengthy injury list, Roberto Losada, the interim head coach, said that from a football standpoint the call-off was “not the end of the world”.
Nonetheless, the players and staff who had expected to board Cathay Pacific flight CX 603 to Kathmandu on Monday evening are now in the dark over when they will journey to India for next Tuesday’s clash. Neither Hong Kong nor the hosts can reach the 2027 finals.
“We’re working on flight tickets and everything else; this window has been super-challenging in every single way,” said Losada, who would ideally fly on Friday or Saturday. The party could potentially be split for travel.
“Things happen, we have to keep calm and try to do the right thing, and we’re working on it,” Losada said.