Here's part two of the season preview:

Hong Kong 1st Division League 2013-14 Season Preview (7) — Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei

Houdini act or Great Escape? Simply choose anyone of those terms and it can be a fitting title for Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei’s story from last season. The team fought off the dreaded relegation on the very last day and it was a close shave for the under-achieving side.
 
There are a lot of question marks surrounding the team with the losses of goalkeeper Zhang Chunhui, striker Mamadou Barry, veteran Li Hang-wui and promising youngster Pak Wing-chak. The team does not seem to have ready replacements for these players who occupied vital positions within the team.
 
Jean Jacques Kilama and Roberto Affonso Junior will return for another season but they will need to redeem themselves if this team hopes to rebound from last season’s disappointed showing. Even with the positive signing of young midfielder Jing Teng from the relegated Wofoo Taipo, Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei still looks like a squad very much in transition.
 
Local player Wong Chun-ho certainly looks like a bright prospect, as shown in his performances from last season. The versatile youngster will likely take on a bigger role this season with the departures of several older local players. Young lions such as Yuen Tsun-nam might also see themselves featuring more with openings throughout the squad.
 
“The club has decided to go with youth for the new season and we will give the deserving kids their rightful opportunities,” outlined Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei coach Chiu Chung-man. “I have told the younger players throughout preseason that they need to grab this opportunity with both hands. As long as they give me their best in training and perform to their outmost, they will be rewarded with opportunities.”

 Hong Kong 1st Division League 2013-14 Season Preview (10) — Yuen Long

Last season’s champion of the second division, Yuen Long was one of the earlier teams that resumed training for the new campaign. Without a doubt, the first division new comer has big hopes for achieving success in their long-waited return to top flight football.
 
The New Territories-based team is comprised by a few first division journeymen with a lot to prove. The bigger names in the team seem to be Brazilian forwards Fabio and Wellingsson De Souza, as well as local centre-back Chiu Chun-kit. Yuen Long hopes the evergreen striker still has some goals left inside him while the Hong Kong international defender can help shore up an unproven defense.
 
Forward Wellingsson De Souza has joined the team after spending a short-stint of last season with South China. The talented attacker will be counted upon to add some much needed firepower to the promoted squad. If the young Brazilian can settle in his new surroundings, there is no limit to what this team can achieve in the new season.
 
“We have a long-term plan for this team and it is not only for first division survival,” outlined head coach Chan Ho-yin. “Besides being a spirited team representing Yuen Long, we also want to work on our tactics and style, not only focusing on defense and counter-attacks. Furthermore, we want to refine our attacking plays and take the game to our opponents when the chances arise.” 

Hong Kong 1st Division League 2013-14 Season Preview (11) — Happy Valley

Another club that is steep in tradition and making its long-waited return to the first division, Happy Valley will grace the top flight circuit with Argentine head coach Sergio Timoner at the helm.
 
Without too many established local players in the side, Happy Valley will rely on hungry local players who have something to prove, such as Lee Chun-yip, Yeung Chi-lun and Pang Tsz-kin. All of them have experiences in the top flight but are still trying to establish themselves.
 
Veterans such as Julius Akosah and Wilfred Bamnjo will also be on hand to offer some calming veteran leadership for the squad. Akosah has had several disappointing seasons recently and Happy Valley will hope that he can re-gain his form and bag the team some much-needed goals. Midfield hard-man Bamnjo will also be counted upon to provide steel and cover for the Happy Valley defense. 
 
Regarding foreign recruits, Happy Valley has acted ambitiously by importing several South Americans and Europeans. Mauro Beltramella, Sasa Mus, Legizamon Arce, Leonardo Abalsamo and Jonatan Acosta were all brought in from Europe and South America to add quality to the squad. However, it is goalkeeper Darko Bozovic who seems to be the most intriguing addition, as he once played in goal for Eastern European powerhouse Partizan.
 

“I do not want to talk about any specific targets right now, except the simple goal of retaining our spot in the first division,” Happy Valley’s Argentine head coach Sergio Timoner revealed. “I wish to work hard, not speak too much and let the people see our results and performance. But one thing that I will promise is that we will try exceptionally hard to achieve our goals.” 

Hong Kong 1st Division League 2013-14 Season Preview (12) — Eastern Salon

Probably the most anticipated team for the coming season. This sleeping giant marks its return to top flight football since 2009 and has shown great ambitions by their off-season signings.
 
Former Tuen Mun centre-back Roberto Fronza, ex-South China schemer Manoel Santos, influential midfielder Li Haiqiang, proven goal-scorer Giovane Da Silva, as well as quality local players such as Man Pei-tak and Cheng Siu-wai have all been recruited to provide quality to the promoted side. To round out the squad, Eastern Salon also managed to invite veteran players such as Yiu Hok-man, Leung Chi-wing and Lee Tsz-ming to re-join the full-time ranks for depth and veteran leadership. Standing in goal will be newly-signed goalkeeper Paulo Cesar, which should help instill confidence between the sticks.
 
Most eyes will be on head coach Lee Kin-wo as he once again finds himself in the top flight platform, this time in a head coach capacity. The former Hong Kong football icon will hope to restore glory to this once proud football club, which has been wandering in lower league obscurity over the past several seasons.
 
On paper, Eastern Salon is shaping up as one of the heavy-weights for the upcoming season. The main question mark for this team seems to be whether they can find the required-chemistry to gel quickly as a team and perform.
 
“Our goal for this season is very clear and that is to go after different trophies,” reveals head coach Lee Kin-wo. “With preseason well underway, we have deliberately organized various friendly matches for the players, with the hope that they can gel with their new teammates in the earliest possible manner.”
 
With great ambitions and a pretty all-round squad, Eastern Salon’s outlook for this season sure looks intriguing, if not promising.