The welcome shock of being asked to captain Hong Kong on Friday has reignited Yue Tze-nam’s belief that he could one day fulfil his goal of playing in Europe.
A self-confessed “introverted guy”, Yue was handed the “big responsibility” of wearing the armband for Roberto Losada’s first match as permanent boss, a scruffy 2-0 win over Mongolia at Hong Kong Stadium.
Consistently one of the city team’s most accomplished players, the 28-year-old right-back trialled with Swansea City during three years studying at Oswestry School in England from 2015. He was close to signing for another team over the Welsh border, The New Saints, only for work permit issues to intervene.
Yue also spent time with Cova de Piedade, then in Portugal’s second tier, in 2019, but he has acknowledged he was not yet mature enough to grasp his opportunity.
Now with Chinese Super League (CSL) side Beijing Guoan, Yue said: “I’m always looking to go to Europe. I’m 28, so maybe the chance has gone but who knows?
“I didn’t expect to be Hong Kong captain, so you don’t know what can be possible.”