Revival of the Ho Ho Cup in 1950: Rekindling the Malaya–Hong Kong Football Rivalry After WW2
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Some time ago, I received some images of a few black-and-white photographs from a member of the family of the late Mr Foo Hee Jong, a defender who represented Singapore during the 1950s.
One of them was a group photo (above) taken at the Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.
Based on some information gathered, it is likely that the photo had been taken in mid-January 1950, and the contingent was the MCFA (Malayan Chinese Football Association) Sino-Malay team with Mr Foo being one of the members.
| The 1950 MCFA tour contingent arrival at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong (as credited) |
One of them was a group photo (above) taken at the Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.
Based on some information gathered, it is likely that the photo had been taken in mid-January 1950, and the contingent was the MCFA (Malayan Chinese Football Association) Sino-Malay team with Mr Foo being one of the members.
THE RETURN OF THE HO HO CUP
One of the objectives of the tour was to resume the Chinese Interport Football Competition, popularly known as the "Ho Ho Cup" (for sponsorship reasons) - a match that was contested by ethnic Chinese teams representing both Hong Kong and Malaya that traced its roots back to 1928.| The MCFA contingent walking on the tarmac of Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong (as credited) |
That trophy was the second variant of the "Ho Ho Cup" donated by Ho Ho Biscuit Factory at a cost of 4,800 Malayan Dollars, as a replacement for the original trophy that was lost in Hong Kong during the Second World War.
FAREWELL AT THE GOH LOO CLUB
Before their departure, the Malayan players and officials were given a farewell reception at the Goh Loo Club, with the new trophy being presented to them, alongside two sets of eleven gold medals - one for the winners and one for the runners-up.| The Goh Loo Club in Chinatown |
A subsequent report from the Hong Kong newspaper "工商晚報" (Kung Sheung Evening News - KSEN) revealed the medals' different values - the winners' medals were worth $75 each, and the runners-up's were valued at $55 each.
ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG
Upon their arrival at the Fragrant Harbour on 18th January, the travelling party paid a courtesy call on Aw Boon Haw, the legendary Tiger Balm King, before playing their first three games of their tour.“Most of the players we have for this trip to Hong Kong are new faces, with the main motive to nurture their technique,” said Lim on the objective of the trip.
"But above all, we want to instil sporting spirit and moral integrity on each of them.
"Without those virtues, no matter how gifted a player may be, we would never select him in the first place." he added.
| The MCFA crest |
The first match on 21st January was an all-Chinese affair between the Combined Chinese side representing Hong Kong, taking on their Malayan opponents for the Ho Ho Cup, which saw the former clinch the new trophy after a two-nil win at the South China Athletic Association (SCAA) football stadium at Caroline Hill.
With the inclusion of Malay players in the following day’s match at the same venue, the touring side notched their first win with a 4-2 victory over the Hong Kong League Selection.
Two days later, the Combined Chinese side secured a 6-3 win over the visitors at Fa Hui Stadium, which is located on the other side of Victoria Harbour at Kowloon Peninsula.
FATIGUE ON THE SECOND LEG
That result concluded the first leg of the contingent’s Hong Kong tour, before they flew to Manila on 25th January to continue their series of friendly fixtures against local sides.Two more fixtures against the Hong Kong League Selection and the Combined Chinese side saw the Malayan team lost 7-1 and 3-1 respectively, an indication of fatigue on the tourists who were back in the then British Crown Colony for the second leg of their venture.
Before landing on the tarmac of Kallang Airport on Valentine's Day, the contingent played three more games at Bangkok - beat Phra Nakhong 2-0 and Siamese Chaisod 4-2, drew 3-3 with Bangkok XI.
A TOUR TO REMEMBER
The tour was hailed as a success by Lim after the squad, apart from the opening Ho Ho Cup defeat, won seven of their other twelve matches, with three draws and two defeats (see P.S 2 below).However, the former Perak and Selangor player noted that the climate had been a significant factor in some of their Hong Kong matches.
The Malayan boys were not used to the cold weather, which forced them to play in bone-chilling conditions - the 7-1 loss to the Hong Kong League Selection side on 7 February at Caroline Hill on Hong Kong Island was one such example.
Lim suggested that future trips of this nature should be organised during the autumn period instead.
Acknowledgment: I would like to express myheartfelt thanks to Mr. Lee Fengnian, who shared and allowed the reproduction of those pictures that led to the fruition of this blog post, detailing an often-forgotten part of local football history.
(P.S 1: It is to note that the Ho Ho Cup match played on 21st January 1950 was actually the 1949 edition, the 1950 edition took place on 27th August 1950 in Singapore at the Jalan Besar Stadium)
(P.S 2: These stats in aqua italics were reported by The Straits Times, however Nanyang Siang Pau's [南洋商報] 15th February 1950 reported the following results that differs from the English broadsheet)
- In Hong Kong (1st Leg - P3, 1W, 2L):
- lost 2-0 to Combined Chinese (Ho Ho Cup)
- win 4-2 over Combined Hong Kong
- lost 6-3 to Combined Chinese
- In Manila (P5, 2W, 2D, 1L):
- win 6-1 over Combined University
- lost 2-0 to Turba Salvaje (local league champions)
- win 3-0 Manila XI
- draw 3-3, 0-0 with All Philippines
- In Hong Kong (2nd Leg - P2, 1W, 1L)
- lost 7-1 to Combined Hong Kong
- win 3-1 over Combine Chinese
- In Bangkok (P3, 2W, 1L)
- win 2-0 over Phra Nakhon
- win. 4-2 over Siamese Chaisod
- draw 3-3 with Bangkok XI
- In total, the tour contingent stats for this tour are - six wins, three draws, and four defeats, based on details by Nanyang Siang Pau
(P.S 3: Some images in this entry were reproduced from sources, as credited, should anyone feel it's inappropriate to have any of the media shown, please kindly email me as soon as possible and I will remove them upon request.)
(P.S 4: I stand to be corrected should there be any mistake in this entry, please feel free to email me if there is, thanks)