The exhibition match between Hong Kong and International Miami has sparked a series of controversies. However, at the same time, many fans have used this game as an opportunity to get to know the Hong Kong League players in the Hong Kong Premier League, and they have shown impressive performances. For the foreign players, being able to compete against world-class players in Hong Kong is also a fresh experience.
Ruslan Mingazow, the current Hong Kong Footballer of the Year and member of the Turkmenistan national team, played for 45 minutes in the match. During that time, he organized several threatening attacks and became a key target for the International Miami defense. He said, “Since I was a child, I always dreamt of playing against world-class footballers. I never imagined having this opportunity before coming to Hong Kong. Although it was a bit disappointing that Messi and Suarez didn’t ultimately play, I am still satisfied to have the chance to meet them up close.”
“From the perspective of a football player, I understand that it is not appropriate for players to participate in the game if they are injured or not feeling well. From the perspective of the fans, they invested a lot to buy tickets for this match, so I also understand their disappointment. The atmosphere at the sold-out stadium that day was amazing, even surpassing that of an AFC Champions League match. I hope the fans will continue to come and support Kitchee in future games.”
“Hong Kong has given me so much. Even though I have only lived here for two years, it feels like I have spent ten years here. Many good things have happened. Being selected by Coach Anderson and the Hong Kong Football Association to be part of the Hong Kong League and being recognized as one of the best players in the Hong Kong Premier League are unforgettable memories. I am very grateful to the coach and to Hong Kong as a place.”
Right: He has spent a significant amount of time playing in Europe. (provided by the interviewee)
Coming from afar
Mingazow was born in the capital city of Turkmenistan, Ashkhabad. His father, Kamil Mingazow, was a renowned local player, and he often watched his father’s matches when he was young. He said, “When I was about six years old, one day I woke up and told my dad that I really wanted to play football. So, he started taking me for training.” However, at that time, there were no age-appropriate teams in Ashkhabad, so Mingazow had to practice and compete with players who were 1-2 years older than him. It was not until he turned 16 and realized that his development opportunities in Turkmenistan were limited that he decided to pursue his progress in Europe.
Mingazow’s European journey began in Latvia, and then he played for various teams in the Czech Republic for five years. During his time with the Czech powerhouse, Slavia Prague, he helped the team win the league championship. Later, he moved on to different clubs in Kazakhstan before joining Kitchee in 2022. He said, “I had already renewed my contract with FC Caspiy in Kazakhstan when I received an offer from Kitchee. My wife noticed that I kept smiling when I received the offer, which showed that deep down, I really wanted to come and try this place. At that time, I knew nothing about Hong Kong football, but I knew that Kitchee was participating in the AFC Champions League and was a big club in Hong Kong. I also wanted to challenge myself in different competitions.”
So, Mingazow joined Kitchee, but at that time, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, local matches were suspended, and Kitchee was preparing for the AFC Champions League in Thailand. His landmark debut for the team was against Chiangrai United in Thailand, where he helped the team make history by reaching the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League. In the following season, he continued to impress, playing in 28 matches, scoring 23 goals, and providing 9 assists. He was later named the Hong Kong Footballer of the Year and selected for the Best XI.
Mingazow has experienced playing at the highest level in Europe, and he believes that Hong Kong Premier League matches pose significant challenges, especially in terms of weather conditions. He said, “I know that many Hong Kong fans often watch foreign football matches on TV and may think that the standard of the Hong Kong Premier League is lower. But as a player immersed in it, the Hong Kong Premier League is not easy to play. Sometimes, matches that seem easy to win may not be because the opponents are weak, but because we are strong. To be honest, this season has not been easy either. Kitchee won three championships last season, so every team wants to defeat us. In a league match against Resources Capital North District, we were leading by three goals, but the final score was 2-3. It shows that they were capable of scoring against us, and they could have even scored three goals against us. So, you never know what might happen, and as a player, you have to stay highly focused.”
He also mentioned that currently, there are 3-4 teams that are more closely matched in terms of strength with Kitchee. If the Hong Kong Premier League could have 10-12 teams of similar caliber, it would enhance the intensity and level of competition.
Mingazow’s perspective highlights the competitiveness and unpredictability of the Hong Kong Premier League, emphasizing that it is not as easy as it may seem from an outside perspective.
The Stand in Hong Kong
In European matches, the number of spectators can reach tens of thousands. When Mingazow first came to Hong Kong, he initially thought that the attendance was low. However, he found that the fans of Kitchee were very friendly, and although there weren’t many spectators in the stands, the relationships were close. Sometimes, the number of people is not the most important thing; what matters most is the quality of how they are supporting. When he was not in good form, the fans would send him messages saying, “Mingi, don’t worry, do your best in the next game.” These messages were very encouraging. In last season’s Hong Kong FA Cup final, he couldn’t play due to a suspension, so he went to the Kitchee fan zone to cheer with them. Their support never stopped, and their voices were hoarse after the match! He was surprised that they could continue to cheer like that every week.
“I have received many trophies and honors in Hong Kong, and these are wonderful memories. Moreover, in Hong Kong, people can communicate in English, which makes our lives easier, and people are also very friendly. My family is also very satisfied with our life in Hong Kong. Everything is close and convenient. My wife continues her painting creations here, and our children attend school in Hong Kong where they can learn English! This is a great bonus because learning English is not easy in Turkmenistan.”
Mingazow’s national team, Turkmenistan, was drawn in the same group as the Hong Kong team in the current World Cup qualifiers. When they visited Hong Kong in November last year, Mingazow had mixed feelings: “It was a special feeling. I am certainly happy to represent my country, but there are also many connections with Hong Kong. Many fans in the stands are my fans in regular matches, so when I scored a goal, I didn’t want to celebrate excessively to show respect to the Hong Kong fans. Hong Kong will visit Turkmenistan in June this year, and I am also looking forward to everyone coming and getting to know the place where I grew up. The buildings and cars here are all white, and I believe the food can attract everyone! If anyone needs assistance, I am more than willing to help.”
In recent seasons, Hong Kong football has had many interactions with Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan is certainly an old opponent of the Hong Kong team, and in recent seasons, more and more Central Asian foreign players have come to Hong Kong, such as Demidov, Shaginbayev, and Kosimov. Football connects these Hong Kongers with the mysterious countries in their eyes. Mingazow believes that the Hong Kong Premier League is also a suitable place for Central Asian players to settle, and he also looks forward to Hong Kong players venturing into Central Asia: “Players may think that Central Asia is far away, but the football level in Central Asia is improving. If Hong Kong players have the opportunity, they should give it a try, especially since many Central Asian league teams also compete in the AFC Champions League. Players like Law Tsz Chun, I believe he can go further, and players like Tan Chun-lok and Chan Shinichi have the ability to challenge. If there is an opportunity, why not?”
Profile
| Name | 路斯蘭 明加索夫 Мингазов Руслан Камильевич Ruslan Kamilyevich Mingazov “Mingi” |
| Pos. | LW/RW |
| Preferred foot | Left and Right |
| Birth | 1991/11/23 |
| Pro team | Asgabat （2007-09） Skonto FC（2009-14） FK Baumit Jablonec（2014-16） SK Slavia Praha（2016-19） →FK Mladá Boleslav（2017） →1. FK Příbram（2018-19） FC Irtysh Pavlodar（2019-20） FC Shakhter Karagandy（2020） FC Caspiy（2020-22） Kitchee（2022-） |
| International Call | 29（TKM，untill 2023/11/21） |
| International Goals | 6（TKM，untill 2023/11/21） |