HONG KONG NO 2 WOLFGANG LUISSER ‘DISAPPOINTED’ TO MISS OUT TO ASHLEY WESTWOOD FOR TOP JOB

Hong Kong set for games against Solomon Islands and Fiji, as new boss settles for watching brief on first assignment

Wolfgang Luisser said he was "disappointed" to be overlooked for the Hong Kong head coach position, but wants to remain a key figure on Ashley Westwood's support staff.

Austrian Luisser, who was assistant to previous boss Jorn Andersen, impressed in caretaker charge for June's World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Turkmenistan following the Norwegian's resignation.

The 45-year-old selected the squad for a forthcoming triangular tournament featuring Solomon Islands and hosts Fiji. He will manage the two games, too, with new head coach Westwood using the trip as a fact-finding mission.

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"I want to stay if I have the opportunity," Luisser told the Post. "[Westwood] is observing the players and observing me, and I think after Fiji he will make a decision."

Luisser, nonetheless, dismissed the idea he was "on trial".

"I am 45 ... I will do my thing and I think it will work out, like in June," he said. "I have good chemistry with [Westwood]. I can only give my best, then let's see what happens."

Luisser said he "made it to the second round" of interviews for the top job.

"I was disappointed but the decision went to Ashley," Luisser added.

Asked if he was told why he missed out, Luisser said: "No, but I heard Ashley was very clear about the players in his first meeting ... that he had analysed all of them.

"Maybe this was the reason, but I also have less experience as a head coach. He has not had many games [as an international coach], but he had six with Afghanistan, which is more than me."

Luisser was rewarded for his faith in youth during his brief tenure, with debutants Timmy Ma Hei-wai, 20, and 18-year-old Anthony Pinto both scoring in a 4-2 loss to Iran. Hong Kong subsequently drew 0-0 in Turkmenistan.

The uncapped 18-year-old pair of Ng Yu-hei and Timothy Chow were included in Luisser's squad to face Solomon Islands on Thursday, and Fiji on Sunday.

"[Selecting youngsters] is how I think it should be in the future for Hong Kong, not the older players," Luisser said.

Forward Everton Camargo withdrew from the squad despite playing 90 minutes and scoring for Lee Man on Saturday. Camargo has appeared only nine times for Hong Kong in the 12 months since he obtained his passport. The Brazil-born player has been unavailable for five overseas trips and travelled only to Cambodia for his debut, and the Qatar-staged AFC Asian Cup finals.

"He played 100 minutes [including stoppage time] on Saturday, I talked to him and explained the situation [for the coming week]," Luisser said. "But then he gave me a call [on Sunday] and said they had done a scan. He's not feeling so well and he thinks it's better to stay here. You want to have your best players around but we need to be flexible, it will not work all the time."

Another player not involved is Jacky Leung Nok-hang. The Zhejiang FC centre-half has pulled out of a succession of squads and Luisser said he made the decision to beat Leung to it this time by leaving him out of the party. Another central defender, Li Ngai-hoi, did not travel to avoid irritating a back complaint on the 10-hour flight.

There were 21 players training hours before departure, however, and Luisser said the objective for the coming week was to secure two victories to improve Hong Kong's lowly world ranking of 159. Fiji, ranked 153rd, beat 141st-ranked Solomon Islands 1-0 in Monday's opening tournament fixture.

"Last year, we had tough opponents, which did nothing for our ranking," Luisser said. "We have to beat these opponents.

"They are physically and technically skilful. But if we play a quick combination game, with good touches, we will win."