Premier Shatin Unveils 5-Year Plan, COLLAR Stars Rally Fans
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Premier Shatin, a newly promoted Hong Kong Premier League football club, held its pre-season press conference on Saturday (August 8) at the Sha Tin Rural Committee. The club unveiled its ambitious five-year development plan, announced its squad roster, and introduced popular girl group COLLAR members Gao and Candy as "team ambassadors" to attract more fans through entertainment performances .
Key Points
- Club owner Wong Chi-chun (Jim) signed a five-year cooperation plan for Premier Shatin, with this season's budget set at approximately HK$9 million .
- Captain Law Tsz-chun and vice-captain Cheng Chun-wang lead a squad retaining promotion heroes including Lam Ka-wai, Lam Hok-hei, Chan Man-fai, and Wong Tsz-ho .
- New signings include former Tai Po goalkeeper Ho Man-fai, midfielder Lam Lok-yin, former Rangers midfielders Ansa and Chiu Ching-yu, former HKFC goalkeeper Lau Wai-hon, and defender Lai Hoi-to .
- Four foreign players signed: Scottish striker James Scott, Japanese striker Kamiya Ugo, Brazilian center-back Joao Vitor Mariano, and Ghanaian defensive midfielder Jude Aifa; a Spanish national team-level attacking midfielder is also being negotiated .
- Home matches will be at Sha Tin Sports Ground, with Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground used temporarily until drainage and locker room renovations are completed in January .
- Four membership tiers launched: Youth Member, Sha Tin Resident Member, Premier Member, and Founding Member, priced from HK$180 to HK$5,880; Founding Members receive meet-and-greet benefits with the artists .
- Head coach Kwok Ka-nok, who took over just one month ago, aims for survival in the first season, with seven young players identified as having Hong Kong team potential, including the injury-recovering Tong Wan-hei .
- A reward scheme offers double salary to any player who earns selection to the Hong Kong senior national team .
Why It Matters
Premier Shatin's entertainment-driven approach represents a notable experiment in Hong Kong football's commercial sustainability, testing whether celebrity partnerships and membership perks can cultivate new fan bases beyond traditional supporters. The club's significant investment in youth development, combined with its ambitious foreign recruitment, also offers a model for how promoted clubs might bridge the gap to established Premier League sides .
Premier Shatin's entertainment-driven approach represents a notable experiment in Hong Kong football's commercial sustainability, testing whether celebrity partnerships and membership perks can cultivate new fan bases beyond traditional supporters. The club's significant investment in youth development, combined with its ambitious foreign recruitment, also offers a model for how promoted clubs might bridge the gap to established Premier League sides .