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Paul McNamara

Leading football promoter Paul Kam said he was “a quarter of the way” to a deal for a “big European team” to play in Hong Kong in May.
Kam, whose ProEvents company is organising Saturday’s FWD Insurance Chinese New Year Cup involving a team of World Legends and a Hong Kong Legends side, said the prospective marquee visitors would be “very popular” with local fans.
He previously told the Post he had begun talks with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool could feature in the Uefa Champions League final on May 31. United’s diary is free in the final week of May, with the Europa League final happening on May 21 and the Premier League climax set for May 25.
Additionally, the Old Trafford club are not in this summer’s Fifa Club World Cup. Jim Ratcliffe, who assumed control of United’s sporting operations 12 months ago, has implemented a series of cost-cutting measures, and a postseason tour would be a way to swell the club’s coffers.

The Post was told last year it would cost around HK$40 million (US$5 million) to entice a Premier League club to Hong Kong.
Kam, who was the organiser of last year’s Hong Kong Stadium clash between Atletico Madrid and Kitchee, confirmed a local club would again provide the opposition.
“It would be great to watch two European teams – that is why people fly to England to watch the Premier League – but we are striving to develop the local game and that element is important,” Kam told the Post.
Kai Tak Sports Park declined to confirm whether their stadium had been booked on any date in the final week of May. A spokeswoman told the Post: “For any announcement regarding event schedules, we may leave it to event organisers as this will align with their promotional strategies.”
Last week, meanwhile, Kam was told the government advisory body, the Major Sports Events Committee, had conferred “M” Mark status on Saturday’s game, making it eligible for public funding and resources.

Kam declined to reveal the level of financial backing being provided, but acknowledged government support had heightened pressure to make the event a success.
“This event is more than 100 years old and it deserves that recognition,” said Kam, who is targeting a Hong Kong Stadium “full house” after revealing half of the 40,000 tickets had been sold.
“The funding isn’t being used as a fee for players, we are using it to organise the match. It helps that my commercial partners will see this as an international event … it is an honour for them to be associated with a proper football match.”
The World Legends team will feature Brazilian World Cup-winning quartet Rivaldo, Cafu, Lucio and Kaka. Other prominent players include Eden Hazard, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid forward, and ex-Manchester City and Spain star David Silva.
The match will be streamed live in several Asian countries, including Japan, mainland China, Thailand and Vietnam, but “for commercial reasons” Kam would not disclose whether the broadcast would generate any revenue.

After only 7,982 people attended December’s sterile Hong Kong Stadium meeting between teams of Barcelona and Real Madrid legends, Kam vowed this weekend’s fixture would show that “not all football matches in Hong Kong are bad”.
He also pointed to the “very fit” global stars, coupled with the selection of some relatively young local players, as evidence the game would be competitive and “have an edge”.
“It is down to organising it properly,” Kam said. “These players are only just retired – Hazard [who is 34], for example. People will be able to enjoy a good match.”


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Promoter makes progress on ‘big European team’ in Hong Kong but first, some football legends

Brazilian World Cup winners Cafu (left) and Rivaldo will part of the World Legends team playing against Hong Kong Legends. Photo: Edmond So 

Ex-internationals Huang Yang (left) and Chan Wai-ho (middle) will play for Hong Kong Legends. Photo: Edmond So 

Promoter Paul Kam says the team visiting Hong Kong in May will be “very popular” with local fans. Photo: Edmond So 

From left, Petr Cech, Hidetoshi Nakata and Diego Forlan are also in the World Legends squad. Photo: Edmond So 

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Eastern players lift the Senior Shield trophy at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: Elson Li

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Eastern’s Noah Baffoe draws a save from Chan Ka-ho. Photo: Elson Li

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Sport

Football

Hong Kong

Promoter Paul Kam says star visitors will face local club, and targets sell-out in New Year Cup match, which has been given ‘M’ Mark status


Promoter Paul Kam says star visitors will face local club, and targets sell-out in New Year Cup match, which has been given ‘M’ Mark status.


English Premier League

Promoter makes progress on ‘big European team’ in Hong Kong but first, some football legends

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Promoter Paul Kam says star visitors will face local club, and targets sell-out in New Year Cup match, which has been given ‘M’ Mark status

Promoter Paul Kam says star visitors will face local club, and targets sell-out in New Year Cup match, which has been given ‘M’ Mark status