Danielle Vos, a prominent defender for Hong Kong’s Kitchee football club, has publicly expressed her strong displeasure with the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA). Her criticism stems from a controversial decision by the federation to reallocate her team’s scheduled training ground, making it available instead for Saudi club Al Nassr, featuring global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 40-year-old Portuguese superstar is currently in Hong Kong with his Al Nassr teammates, participating in the 2025 Saudi Super Cup. Vos took to social media to voice her profound disappointment regarding the HKFA’s handling of the situation, highlighting the significant disruptions caused to her team’s preparations.
“An ongoing and repeated shame!” Vos reportedly exclaimed, conveying her frustration after Kitchee was forced to miss several crucial training sessions. She further questioned the HKFA’s priorities, stating, “The federation, it seems, has its own agenda and a history of supporting projects that do not prioritize women’s football tournaments in Hong Kong.” Providing a specific example, Vos elaborated, “Just last week, we had booked the pitch for training ahead of the AFC Women’s Champions League tournament, but the federation informed us that they had cancelled our booking to accommodate Al Nassr.”
Kitchee typically conducts its training on artificial turf pitches. However, with their upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League Group E match against Cambodia’s Crown FC scheduled for August 28th, the team requires specific training on natural grass to adapt effectively to the playing conditions they will encounter. Vos and her Kitchee teammates had planned to utilize a natural grass pitch for their preparations before traveling to Cambodia, with further matches, including one against India’s East Bengal, also on their itinerary.
Hong Kong is currently hosting the 2025 Saudi Super Cup, which serves as a significant pre-season event for the Saudi Pro League. This tournament features four of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent clubs: Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Qadisiyah, and Al Ahli, drawing considerable attention to the region.
