Lot of things changed since Dogs left the Shatin shelter and began their fight for food to survive. For instance, there were fewer matches. Comparing with badminton and tennis, football is more popular for people who are still in their school time than those who need to work. To start with, even for a small Hong Kong stone ground pitch, you need at least 12 people to play a football match. Conversely, you need only 2 for a badminton or tennis game.
From day one, DUFC played with Hire Guns. During the early period, CUHK contributed no less than fifty plus hire guns, four of them came quite often and stayed with the Team. After a while, they made themselves one of the Dogs, naturally and unintentionally:-
Ryan Poon (as known as Pork Wing): Fat, short, slow and rarely match fit. He is the most senior Dogs beside the seven founder members. He was an ECONNA. The only reason why he was missed being one of the founder member is because his mother brought him to the world one year late.
He is not a player who will catch you eye with his skill (like Zidane) and he is neither a player who will catch your eye with his handsome face (like Beckham, OK, acknowledged that you don't agree). Indeed the Team discovered his talent and importance rather lately.
Wing pays extra care on his warm-up. In the recent World Cup, substitutes normally took 15-20 minutes for their warm-up. Wing takes 30-45 minutes instead. Besides, he loves to warm-up with extremely difficult positions, e.g. pushing the feet to the face or 一字馬.
He brings morale and sprit to the Team, front and back. He plays till the last minute and he never gives-up. Whenever there is him on the pitch, there is fun. I love him.
Favorite quota, "WWWOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR x10"
Sam Lau (as known as Sai-Lo-Chai): He is the most consistent player of DUFC. He is so reliable that his name would be the first to be put down by every coach. You need a player like Sam to form the back-bone of the team.
In order for a team to be effective, you must have player with unselfish mind. In order for a Sunday Club to last for 10 plus years, you need players who are unselfish to play the defense. Sam is DUFC's only unselfish defender ever. He starts his every single game at the back of his own half, and he stays there. He never makes any complaint about his position. He simply plays his football, wholeheartedly. He is THE Natural-Born Defender.
Some people might say: football is about scoring. You will not worship a goalkeeper or center half and you will never print your shirt of favorite team with number 2 or 5. Yes, it might be truth. What I want to say is: you will never win a football match with 11 Alan Shearer. And, Sam speaks the same with his plays, week-in week-out.
As a player who plays with him for more than 10 seasons, I can tell you that you will love to see him around you, anytime.
Favorite quota, "Good ball ! 無壊 !"
Derek Lo (as known as Ar-Lo): He is a superman. He plays 4-5 football matches every weekend. He loves to play with different dogs simply because he can never be satisfied with DUFC.
He is the crazy dog of DUFC while he never stops running and shouting. In his early days with the Team, he dribbles a lot. With his age, he changed his game into physical style. In general, he likes physical contact with opponents.
He is extremely valuable when playing against physical team. After all, you need players to take all those illegal fouls and kicks (to the leg but the ball). The worst the condition of the pitch or the temperament of the opponents, the more you want to see Lo playing.
He is now living in Shenzhen.
Favorite quota, " 你睇睇, 我上前 !"
Mr Ma (as known as Duck): He was introduced by Hoi. I am sorry but I have to say: he was once a promising right-side player of the Team. Remember Lee Sharp of Man United? Similar case.
" There is no sure thing of Natural-born Forward. If you still insist that you are the Natural-born Forward, you just don't know what Football is all about. " Master Plato