WHO ARE YA?! WHO ARE YA?! Part 3 - Charlie and Michael Wong!

Part 3 of Who Are Ya?! Who Are Ya?! - our preview ahead of the new season - continues with profiles of Michael Wong and Charlie Markillie.  

Michael is a well known local supporter at the forefront of Ultras Bluewave.  Charlie is a relatively new foreign fan who has passionately adopted Kitchee as his own. 

They both tell us about their experiences watching Kitchee and their hopes for the new season...

Michael Wong

1. Why do you support Kitchee?

Actually, I don't know why, out of all the Hong Kong teams, I chose to support Kitchee - I just knew that I wanted to support a local team. However, as time passed by, I realised I had developed a serious crush on Kitchee!!

2. When was your first Kitchee game?
The first Kitchee match I saw was actually on television, the friendly match against AC Milan - which Kitchee won! However, my first live match was the Hong Kong derby versus South China. The game ended as a draw but the stadium was sold out. Even though I was only 7 years old, I remember that I thought the atmosphere was excellent!


3. Who is your favourite Kitchee player (ever)?
Li Ngai Hoi. I noticed him as even though he is quite a junior player, he still has a professional and serious attitude on the pitch. I think he will be a great asset to Kitchee in the future. He is also a nice guy off the pitch!

4. What is your most memorable moment/day as a Kitchee fan?
It has to 6/5/17! A beautiful 4-1 win against Eastern to seal the title on the last day and the first field attack in Hong Kong!

5. What Was your worst day as a Kitchee fan?
Definitely the 2009-2010 senior shield final against South China. Kitchee were winning 2-0 after 60mins, but somehow we managed to lose 4-2. Heart Breaking!

6. Who do you hate more - SCAA or Eastern? Why?
SCAA. Even though Eastern are perhaps bigger rivals now. The history behind SCAA and Kitchee means I definitely hate them more.

7. What I your favourite Kitchee song?
Sha la la la la la la We are the Kitchee boys

8. Prediction for this season?
I'd like to think that we can win the Hong Kong Premier League again and hopefully win 3-4 points in the ACL group stage. That would be a successful season.


Charlie Markillie

1. Why do you support Kitchee?
I moved to Hong Kong from England in November 2015. In England I was an avid supporter of Blackpool Football Club and attended almost everyone of their matches home and away, so there was a large football sized void to be filled when I arrived. I did some research into the Hong Kong leagues and joined a few groups on facebook but didn't actually attend a game until I was invited to do so by a friend, Liu Kam To.
2. When was your first Kitchee game?
My first game was in January 2016. I met Liu Kam To and his girlfriend, Blenda, and we headed to the stadium together. I said to myself that I would try to remain neutral and would support whoever won the match that day. Initially I was actually more drawn to South China - I love Adidas and their shirts are so beautifully designed - but I remember being impressed by the passion of the Kitchee fans. The match itself was fantastic and had everything - an away win, a saved penalty, a sending off (Bojan - who then started arguing with the Kitchee fans) - and from there I was hooked!
3. Who is your favourite Kitchee player (ever)?
I've only been supporting Kitchee for a relatively small amount of time but the players that stand out for me are Lam Ka Wai, Lo Kwan Yee and Fernando. Ka Wai and Kwan Yee are HK Legends. For Kwan Yee to rack up over 250 appearances for the same club in Hong Kong is fantastic.
4. What is your most memorable moment/day as a Kitchee fan?
It will take something special to beat the last match of last season. However, the whole of the run in was phenomenal. After losing to Southern (we ALWAYS do badly there) I thought that was our opportunity gone, but the run we put together over the next 8 league games was breathtaking. Even though we were always playing catch up, myself and all of my friends knew that we could do the necessary. The day of the game, whilst I was nervous, the atmosphere was so buoyant before kick-off, everyone knew we would run out winners. We knew Eastern would bottle it. The joy when we eventually ran away with it and at the final whistle was amazing.
5. What was your worst day as a Kitchee fan?
I was there in Ulsan for the ACL Qualification Match vs Ulsan Hyundai. No one really gave Kitchee any chance in the match - the odds for Kitchee to win were something like 10-1 - but the boys did themselves proud. If it wasn't for a badly deflected goal for the home team and Sandro hitting the post late on, we would have won the game. Unfortunately, we didn't and it went to penalties and the rest is history. The 10 or so of us who were in attendance were all in tears.

6. Who do you hate more - SCAA or Eastern? Why?
SCAA will always be our main rivals and SCAA v Kitchee will always be considered to be the Hong Kong Derby. However, I do have a begrudging respect for their history and (as mentioned above) I love their kit. I don't have much time for Eastern at all. They got so big headed after winning the league the season before last. So, I think I would have to say Eastern.

7. What is your favourite Kitchee song?
"We are the Kitchee boys"
8. Prediction for this season?
I think it will be difficult. We've only really added Lucas (who I think will be a great player for us) in the off season, whilst Eastern, R&F and Yuen Long have all invested heavily in their teams - I also think the new boys will be better than the bottom of the table teams last year, so there won''t be any easy games. However, keeping our winning team together is an excellent achievement. There appears to be a fantastic team spirit and I think this will pull us through. I'd like to think we can win the league again and win one or two matches in the ACL. Anything else would be a huge bonus.