Best In Sevens: Back On Pitch!

After a long career spanning Spain and Hong Kong, Fernando Recio is finally stepping out for his home team, Ampcontrol DB, at the upcoming Soccer Sevens. Sam Agars reports

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Andrew J.C. Spires & Nigel Baillie

Where Fernando Recio comes from, football is life. And now, nearly 40 years after his first-ever training session, the 43-year-old Spaniard will once again get the chance to play the game he loves when he steps out for Ampcontrol DB in this month’s HKFC Standard Chartered Priority Private Soccer Sevens.

“I remember my first training session – I was five years old. If you are a football player, you are a football player until you pass away,” he says. “All my life is about football. Even now, I am so happy I can continue to work in football because it is not easy when you retire from playing.”

After a senior career as a centre-back spanning more than two decades, beginning in Spain and culminating in Hong Kong, Fernando is now an assistant coach for Hong Kong Premier League (HKPL) side Kitchee and the Hong Kong national team. A third-division player in Spain for teams such as UE Rapitenca and CF Amposta while living in Roquetes, Fernando was lured to Hong Kong by Kitchee in 2010 and also represented Lee Man in the HKPL, as well as stepping out for the Hong Kong national team.

“I played for Kitchee for nine years and Lee Man for five, while I also played some games for Hong Kong. It was a nice experience, representing Hong Kong. In Spain this would have been impossible that I play for the national team. The level is amazing in Spain but to have this opportunity here is really good,” he says.

His retirement from playing, however, will be put on hold when he suits up for Ampcontrol DB at the Soccer Sevens at the Hong Kong Football Club from May 22 to 24. The team is managed by local residents Tim Bredbury and Mike Collier, who runs the Discovery Bay Football Club over-45s team. And, after moving to DB from Tung Chung last year, Fernando is looking forward to representing his new home.

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“At my age, I just want to enjoy the experience. Of course, I want to win every single game and I like to be competitive, but honestly the most important thing for me now is to enjoy it,” he says.

Fernando will make his first appearance for Ampcontrol DB, with Tim Bredbury finally getting his man. “Tim is a legend in Hong Kong. Everybody in Hong Kong football knows Tim. We started to talk and he kept asking when I could play and finally this year I have time,” confirms Fernando.

While Tim, a DB resident of almost 40 years, is acutely aware of the importance of being competitive, the tournament is about far more than just winning and losing. “It’s just fun. It’s the best Sevens tournament in Asia and you get to play against some of the best players,” he says. “It’s also got a great community feel. The football scene in DB is pretty strong, especially up at DBIS of an evening. Every night of the week there is a football game of some description going on, plus there is Sunday morning football.”

While the team will feature a string of DB residents, the sponsors are also a major par t of Ampcontrol DB’s fabric and boast strong local connections through Lippman Lee (Ampcontrol), Tim Drew (Tanner De Wit t), Paul Daley (Feather & Bone), Guillaume Mauf frey (Riedel), Wendy Lee (Axis Performance), Deshraj Chandel and Gaurav Bhasin (Ona/ A Tavola), Gareth Rae (Tsunami) and Jean- François Harvey (Around DB). Non-DB resident sponsor Creative Lighting Asia is also a key part of this year’s family.

While it will be Fernando’s first time playing in the masters section of the Soccer Sevens – where teams can have five players aged from 35 to 39 with the rest 40 and over – he’s tasted the ultimate success in the tournament’s main draw. “I have played in the Soccer Sevens twice before, both with Kitchee. We won the tournament against Celtic in 2011 and in 2014 we lost the final against Man City,” he says.

“I like the atmosphere of this tournament and that there is football from the morning into the night. The games are fast; there are different rules – no offsides – and when you have possession you cannot lose the ball otherwise you have to run a lot. It’s quite interesting.”

Victory in the Soccer Sevens is far from the extent of Fernando’s footballing success in Hong Kong, and his experience will be called on as Ampcontrol DB looks to go back-to-back after defeating Wallsend Boys Club HK in last year’s final. “The DB team has good quality every year and is always in the fight to win the tournament. Now is the most difficult – everyone can win one time but to continue to win is most difficult. Let’s see how we go.”

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On top of the pressure that comes with defending the title, Fernando admits he’s also starting to feel a bit apprehensive on a personal level. “I’ve never played this over-age football but I think it will be a good level. I’m a bit nervous. Maybe not so much nervous, but definitely excited. Let’s see if I can continue at my level. It’s a big challenge for me,” he says. “I’m trying to prepare but I haven’t played football for almost two years so it won’t be easy. Of course, I know how to play football but I’m not as fit as some players.”

When he’s not coaching, Fernando remains involved in the game through his support of Real Madrid – “All my family follow Barcelona, being from Catalonia, so when I watch with my family, I’m a bit shy” – and following 16-year-old son Hugo as he plies his own career for Kitchee.

Fernando is quick to praise the facilities in Hong Kong but today’s generation of youngsters does leave him scratching his head at times. “The pitches I started on weren’t artificial, they were sand. It was difficult back then. Now it’s easy for everyone,” says Fernando, who also has a daughter – Paola, 14.

“My son is not bad. Let’s see... Now, the new generation sometimes is a bit lazy. Too much computers, too much phone – it’s different to when I was that age. For me, it was only football. I would go to school and play football, then I would finish school and play football. It was 24/7 football. Now it is different.”

That’s part of the DB attraction for Fernando and his wife Gloria – the countless ways parents can entice their children outside. “One of the reasons I like DB is that you can ride your bicycle, you can go running, you play football, basketball, tennis – you can do all these things. If you live elsewhere, it’s not as easy,” he says, before expanding on why DB has been such a great fit for his family.

“Everyone knows each other and it’s a small community. I like it a lot. It’s calm, you’ve got the beach, the kids can play, Central is only 25 minutes away and Sunny Bay is 12 minutes by bus. I’ve measured it. I am so happy to be here.”

While Fernando is lapping up the quiet life in DB, things will be anything but calm come the pointy end of the Soccer Sevens as his side battles to retain its crown. “Of course, there is always pressure when you win a lot and I love the pressure,” he says. “It excites me. I like this tournament.”