AFC Cup rivals' watch – Kitchee SC

The AFC Cup, which is Asia’s equivalent of the Europa League, starts next week with India being represented by East Bengal and Churchill Brothers. Both clubs have been drawn with teams from South-East Asia, with East Bengal in Group H (Tampines Rovers, Selangor and Saigon Xuan Thanh) and Churchill Brothers in Group E (Kitchee SC, Semen Padang and Warriors FC).

Sportskeeda will be profiling all the opponents of both the I-League clubs. We kick off the series by looking at Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC, Churchill’s opponents on matchday one on February 26.

History

Kitchee Sports Club are five-time Hong Kong First Division champions with two of those titles coming in the last two editions. The club was founded in 1931 and was one of the top teams in Hong Kong between the late 40s and mid 50s, having finished in the top two five times between 1947 and 1957, including two league titles. Their third league crown came in 1964 but they had to wait 47 years for their next title.

This will be their third appearance in the AFC Cup, with their best performance coming last year when they reached the round of 16. Recently, Kitchee have been playing various top clubs in pre-season friendlies with their last one being a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in July 2012. They are also set to play Manchester United later this summer. The club will also open a brand new youth football training centre in 2014 and the proceeds from the high-profile pre-season games are helping to fund it.

Current Team

Walcott in action against Kitchee

The current Kitchee side has a strong Spanish influence because of their Spanish head coach Josep Gombau, who is the former technical director of Barcelona’s FCB Escola. Kitchee have won four major trophies under Gombau, including the first league title in 47 years in 2011. There are currently five Spanish players in their first team squad but there are some good local players also, including five current Hong Kong internationals. The biggest name in their squad is Pakistan international Zesh Rehman, who has the distinction of being the first British Asian to play in the English Premier League.

Kitchee’s dream of winning a hattrick of domestic league titles is very much alive as they are currently second in the table. They are seven points behind leaders South China but have a game in hand and still have a home against South China remaining. On paper, they are one of strongest teams in Group E and because of their experience of reaching the knockouts last season, Kitchee will be expected to qualify for the round of 16 again.

Key Players

Zesh Rehman

Zesh Rehman during his EPL days

The Fulham youth product is in his second season at Kitchee and is one of their most important players. Zesh, who is a center back, scored his very first goal for the club in the AFC Cup last year and will be aiming to inspire the Hong Kong club to the knockout stages once again.

Chu Siu Kei

The 33-year-old is the club captain and a member of the Hong Kong national team. Siu Kei is a goal scoring midfielder, having netted five times in the league already this season. He has happy memories of playing in India as well having set up the winner in the 1-0 victory in an international friendly in 2010.

Pablo Counago

This 33-year-old striker is a former Spanish Under-21 international and has had spells at clubs like Celta Vigo, Ipswich Town and Malaga. This is his first season at Kitchee and he has already made a huge impact there, scoring six goals in seven league appearances.