Jaimes McKee - Hong Kong National Striker Reflects on the Hong Kong Premier League and Playing for Hong Kong
Christopher KL Lau
Jaimes McKee has been leading the line for both Hong Kong and Sun Pegasus for several seasons now. Now, one of the most recognizable footballers in Hong Kong, McKee hopes to fire Hong Kong to victory over China in the much anticipated upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Here, McKee takes time to have a quick chat about his own experiences in the Hong Kong Premier League and playing for Hong Kong.
How Was Last Season For You?
I think this season has probably been one of my toughest seasons. Obviously, I have had quite a few injury problems this season and this started pre-season. I was not able to have a good pre-season and this (injury) followed me throughout the year. I played a few games and got injured again and it was tough and I think not being able to get a good pre-season in was a big thing as it generally prepares you well for the year. Pre-season training gives you the chance to work on a few different things and not having that really set me back.
The thing I am quite happy with is the way things have gone for Hong Kong. Obviously I got my first international goal against North Korea. I was really happy to get that first goal. I had scored in the Guangdong Cup but I am not sure if that was FIFA recognized so it was nice to score in a FIFA recognized tournament. Now obviously I have gone on to score against Guam and Bhutan so I have scored a few goals for Hong Kong now which is nice. That side of things has been good.
The League was tough and the team did not perform as well as they would have liked. It is never nice when the team is underperforming, the atmosphere is never as good for obvious reasons.
Sun Pegasus started off so well last season but gradually dropped off. Why did this happen?
I think the big problem for us was that there were so many changes. We had a lot of new players, and so many changes from the last season. Things had been going alright but we hadn't really won a cup, so in the summer (last summer), they brought in new players and a new coach and I think we never really got the balance of the team right.
We never really knew what was our strongest starting eleven. We started well but no one was completely satisfied with the results but they wanted us to be winning and playing better football and it meant there was always tinkering with the team. There were constantly lots of changes and then the coach changed. Even though we did start well, I would say it was a bit false. It didn't really represent where the team was.
Do you think the first Hong Kong Premier League was a success?
It was hard to say. It didn't feel that different to the previous season. I think where it has possibly been quite good is in terms of youth development and obviously one of the regulations. All the teams have to have a youth team and I think that is a positive change and I think it is important that we try and build up the grass roots which will eventually feed into the Premier League and into the Hong Kong national team and make the standard of football here better.
In terms of the league, it would be interesting to see if there is more audience or whether there isn't. It was the first season so hopefully it will grow and get better.
How is the atmosphere in the Hong Kong camp?
It was nice to have the training trip to Malaysia. I have just been enjoying playing in the Hong Kong team a bit more. Things at Pegasus were not so good at the end of the season. The results were not good. It is always nice to be in a team which has won a game as well. It is quite a relaxed environment and everyone is getting on but as the games come closer there is a build up of intensity.
© Chris Lau & Soccerphile.com