Hong Kong’s most successful football side, South China Athletic Association (South China AA), is to roll out the red carpet for North American Soccer League (NASL) team the New York Cosmos – complete with Spanish legends Raúl and Marcos Senna – in Thursday’s annual Lunar New Year Cup at Hong Kong Stadium.
Since its inauguration in 1948, the Cup has generally consisted of four sides playing over four days. Initially only local and China-based teams made up the entrants, but that changed over time, and in the past 10 years football enthusiasts in Honkers have been treated to a who’s-who of the global game, including the Brazilian national side, Uruguayan giants Peñarol and, err, the Jamaican Olympic team.
Although just two teams will compete this year, fans can look forward to catching a glimpse of a genuine footballing legend Raúl and Spanish European Championship winner Marcos Senna, both of whom have opted to spend the twilight of their careers in the highly competitive environment of, clears throat, the NASL.
Three-time Champions League winner Raúl, who visited Hong Kong in 2003 with his then club side Real Madrid, told Coconuts HK that he’s looking forward to returning because, “The fans are really passionate about football so it’s a great experience”, adding, somewhat unconvincingly, that the Cosmos “know all about South China [AA] and its long history and are expecting a very competitive game”.
Reminiscing about his trip to Hong Kong with Spanish side Villarreal in 2009, Brazil-born nationalised Spaniard Marcos Senna meanwhile said, “The people were so friendly and the food was great.”
Come on. They’re footballers. You didn’t really expect inspiring quotes did you?
Raúl playing for Real vs Barca in 2007
Jokes aside, the Cosmos, coached by Venezuelan Giovanni Savarese, have an extraordinary history.
Back in 1970, the US made its first attempt to create a soccer league to rival the already established competitions in Europe and South America. However, with American football, baseball and basketball already preoccupying the majority of sports fans’ time, there seemed little room for a new boy in town – and the scheme was failing. Dramatically.
That was until Jun. 10, 1975, when the Cosmos pulled off what was described as the transfer coup of the century in signing Brazil’s three-time World Cup winner Pele, a player many observers even to this day insist is the best to have ever graced the beautiful game.
Pele (front) with the Cosmos in the mid-70s
From that day onwards the New York club grew in stature, with match crowds coming close to 80,000 and celebrity fans such as Mick Jagger and Steven Spielberg turning out to cheer on the team.
More stars signed, including fellow World Cup winners Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto, while England’s World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore and football’s original playboy George Best joined rival NASL clubs in the mini boom of American soccer that ensued.
Unfortunately the glory years were short lived, and when Pele brought the curtain down on his illustrious career in 1977, the Cosmos, and ultimately the league, fell back into obscurity before going out of business in 1985.
But with football stateside now well into its second coming – boasting stars such as David Beckham and Thierry Henry at the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls, respectively – the Cosmos announced their return in 2010, and two years later were back competing in the revamped NASL.
Senna signed in 2013, while a year later Raúl agreed to come out of retirement to represent the New York club. With plans to eventually join the MLS, the Cosmos dream is now well and truly alive again.
Cosmos at Hong Kong’s apm mall
The Cosmos are visiting Hong Kong to play South China AA – themselves winners of an impressive 41 Hong Kong First Division League titles – as part of the their pre-season preparations.
The HK team, managed by Ecuadorian Mario Gómez, is already guaranteed to improve on their fourth-place finish in 2012, albeit without kicking a ball, but victory over Raúl and co. would be the perfect way to get the New Year celebrations off to a flying start.
To cheer on the local boys, head down to the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay on Thursday in time for the 3:15pm kick off. Ticket enquiries can be made at (+852) 2613-9286.
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