Opinion | Left Field: Hong Kong's home-grown players need more playing time in the Premier League

Lo Kwan-yee hit the nail on the head soon after Kitchee clinched the treble this season by defeating Eastern in the FA Cup final when he said it was a pity local players were not being given more opportunities in the Premier League.

The Kitchee captain said he regretted that he was the only local player in the starting team - the 10 others being either foreign, naturalised or from the mainland. The practice of loading the team with foreign talent, according to Lo, would have a "negative effect on the next generation as they will think there are not sufficient chances for them in the top flight".

Maybe Lo is thinking of his own self-interests. His contract with Kitchee expires at the end of the season and he could be pitching for his job when he says "the local players are just as good as their overseas counterparts and all we need is more opportunities from the management". But do Kitchee management think the same way?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Kitchee might be grooming the next generation of local stars in their nursery, but the short-term focus is on winning trophies. At the end of the day that is what matters with sponsors and the club's well-wishers, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which has thrown its considerable weight behind the club by providing facilities.

Other clubs will take the lead from the champion team, if they aren't already, and pack their sides with foreign talent in pursuit of silverware and glory. The end result is it will leave local players on the sidelines, waiting in vain for a chance to shine.

What this translates into is a weakened national squad. If the local players don't get the opportunity to play in the domestic league, how can they take the next step on the international scene? They will be well off the pace as has been discovered in recent years.