Hong Kong FA, Rugby Football Union Codes Team Up To Build Training Center

The Hong Kong FA is "set to join up" with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and the government to "start work on an interim version of the proposed National Football Training Centre at Tseung Kwan O," according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. The Hong Kong national team and First Division clubs "will have to continue sharing facilities with the public next season" because the Tseung Kwan O facility "continues to be delayed" as a Hong Kong Jockey Club-commissioned consultancy "study to prepare a master plan for the site remains unfinished." HKFA CEO Mark Sutcliffe said that the center "would not be ready for the start of the new professional league in September." The plan is for four pitches -- two artificial, two grass -- "to be built on the site as soon as possible," but Sutcliffe said that even this interim solution "may not be sorted out for next season" (SCMP, 2/6).