Wednesday 22 February 2017 will be a special day for the Asian Football Confederation (the organisers of the AFC Champions League), reigning Hong Kong champions Eastern Long Lions and their coach Chan Yuen Ting. It is a day that will see Eastern make their first appearance in the prestigious continental competition since it was revamped, having taken part in it 20 years ago, while for her part, Chan Yuen will become the first woman to coach a men’s team in a continental club tournament.
On the eve of her side’s opening 2017 AFC Champions League group match against China PR’s Guangzhou Evergrande – one of the favourites to lift the trophy – the intrepid young coach gave an exclusive interview to FIFA.com. Looking ahead to the occasion, she said: “I never thought I’d find myself in such a big competition. Last year was fantastic for everyone here. I didn’t think that the players would take me so far, but we’re on the way to making our dreams come true. My job now is to coach the team as best I can in the competition.”
As well as the Chinese giants, Eastern will be coming up against two other Asian big guns in the group phase of the competition: Suwon Samsung Bluewings of Korea Republic and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale. Sizing up the opposition, Chan Yuen commented: “We knew before the draw was made that we’d be facing some big teams from Japan, China, South Korea or Australia. I think they’re all stronger than the clubs in Hong Kong. We know that there’s a gulf between us, but we’ll be giving it everything we’ve got. We can’t wait for the group phase to start.
“All the matches will be tough for us because we know that Eastern are not as strong as their opponents. Nothing is impossible in football, though. We’re well prepared and we’re ready for these games. We’ve analysed our opponents and come up with game plans for them. I want my players to show their mental strength and technique on the pitch.”
The only woman involved in the competition, Chan Yuen will be stepping out against none other than Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guangzhou’s Brazilian coach. “Everyone knows that Scolari is a great coach who’s won the World Cup with Brazil,” she said. “I’m going to talk to him when I meet him. I want to learn from him on the pitch because he has a lot of experience.”
BEROKINA.COM 
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