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Paul McNamara

Midfielder Remi Dujardin said Tai Po would be fighting for the honour of Hong Kong football when they enter the lion’s den at Cong An Hanoi on Thursday.
After beating Macarthur for a winning start to their AFC Champions League Two campaign a fortnight ago, the Hong Kong champions’ continental quest is about to grow tougher on their visit to the Vietnamese cup holders’ 22,500 capacity Hang Day Stadium.
But Dujardin said “inspirational” head coach Lee Chi-kin had convinced his team anything was possible, as Tai Po try to establish themselves as one of the best teams to have come out of Hong Kong.
“This is massive for the club … and the coach insists we’re not just representing a district, we’re playing for Hong Kong,” Dujardin said. “We want to show the standard is getting stronger here.”
Former local powerhouses South China and Kitchee were the last Hong Kong teams to escape an Asian group, in 2016, other than Lee Man and Eastern, respectively, who progressed in the heavily diluted competitions of 2021 and 2022.

While Tai Po’s resurgence is in its infancy, the 57-year-old Lee has assembled a squad packed with power, speed, skill and no little resilience.
“With this coach anything is possible, his ambition and that of the owners [Francis and Catherine Yip] is very inspiring for all the players,” Dujardin said.
“They want to build a training base, win as much as possible, and really develop Hong Kong football.”
Dujardin had an unhappy 10 months with China League One team Dandong Tengyue, before “not having the best of starts back in Hong Kong” after he joined BC Rangers in January 2024.
A few eyebrows were raised when Lee took the 27-year-old to Tai Po last summer, but he has proved an inspired signing.
“I just needed one chance, one psychological switch, the coach gave me confidence and my teammates have pushed me to new levels,” Dujardin said.
Trying to muscle into Tai Po’s ACL2 team has been a “different challenge”, however, with no cap on foreigner numbers. Dujardin did not figure in the 2-1 success against Macarthur, as Lee began with seven Brazilians, Australian James Temelkovski and only three locals.
The former Brazil youth international Patrick Valverde is, perhaps, the local league’s most technically gifted player, while electric striker Temelkovski has dazzled following his summer arrival.
“A lot of quality foreigners want to be involved in Hong Kong now,” Dujardin said. “It can be a great platform to play against the best teams in Asia, and the league is getting more competitive.
“As locals, there’s more competition for ACL2 spots, but I’ll embrace any chance to test myself against the best.”
In a league victory over Kowloon City last week, Dujardin played alongside his brother Alex for the first time after Tai Po rescued the 26-year-old from a difficult spell with Nanjing City.
“It was a special moment for us and for our parents,” Dujardin said. “I didn’t have the greatest experience in [mainland] China, and he’s off the back of a tough time.
“When [Lee] asked me about bringing him, I said it would be a good idea. He’s local, he has physique and height, and he’s hungry.”
Lee watched Cong An Hanoi’s 2-0 win at Nam Dinh after Tai Po travelled to Vietnam on Sunday. They landed in high spirits after surviving a Lee Man comeback from 2-0 down and two red cards to win their Senior Shield quarter-final on penalties the previous evening.
“We have character and personality, we never give up and, whatever the situation, we believe we can win,” Dujardin said.


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Football

Midfielder Remi Dujardin says team believe ‘anything is possible’ ahead of stern Vietnam test, hails local league’s pulling power


Midfielder Remi Dujardin says team believe ‘anything is possible’ ahead of stern Vietnam test, hails local league’s pulling power.


AFC Champions League

Lee Chi-kin

AFC Champions League 2: Inspired Tai Po fighting for Hong Kong’s reputation

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Midfielder Remi Dujardin says team believe ‘anything is possible’ ahead of stern Vietnam test, hails local league’s pulling power

Midfielder Remi Dujardin says team believe ‘anything is possible’ ahead of stern Vietnam test, hails local league’s pulling power