Cheng Siu Wai

Hong Kong footballer

Cheng Siu Wai
Personal information
Full name Henry Cheng Siu Wai
Date of birth (1981-12-27) 27 December 1981 (age 42)
Place of birth Yuen Long, British Hong Kong
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Double Flower 9 (5)
2003–2004 Rangers (HKG) 16 (1)
2004–2009 South China 61 (8)
2008–2009 → HK Pegasus (loan) 19 (3)
2009–2011 Kitchee 33 (3)
2011–2012 Sun Hei 17 (6)
2012–2013 Kitchee 11 (2)
2013–2017 Eastern 26 (6)
International career‡
2007–2012 Hong Kong 15 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 June 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 May 2017

Henry Cheng Siu Wai (Chinese: 鄭少偉; Cantonese Yale: Jehng Siuwáih, born 27 December 1981) is a former Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a striker.

Early life

Cheng Siu Wai is born to a Hong Kongese father and a Thai mother. They separated when he was a young boy, his mother returned to Thailand and he grew up in a single parent family in a housing estate in Sheung Shui. There was a 5-a-side football field at the estate and he started playing there since primary school.[1]

He finished his studies after reaching Form 3. He was working as an electrician and playing amateur football in Yuen Long, when he was asked if he wanted to play football as a professional. He is popularly known as Henry because of his uncanny physical resemblance to the French striker.[2]

Club career

Double Flower

Cheng Siu Wai made his Hong Kong First Division League debut in 2002 with Double Flower. He scored his first goal on the same day with a volley at Mong Kok Stadium.[3]

Rangers

Cheng Siu Wai was released by Buler Rangers one month before the end of the 2004–05 Hong Kong First Division League season because he failed to reach the club's expectations.[4]

South China AA

When Cheng Siu Wai first joined South China, his monthly salary was only HK$4,000 (approx US$500). By the time he left in 2008, it went up to HK$11,000 (approx US$1,375). Because of his difficult financial situation, he lived in the club's quarters and only returned home once a week.[5]

He was a member of the squad that got South China relegated at the end of the 2005–06 Hong Kong First Division League season. But the club was retained in the first division upon Steven Lo's appointment as the club's convener.

On 11 March 2008, Cheng Siu-wai scored two goals for South China against Home United FC of Singapore, at Mongkok Stadium in an AFC Cup group game. However, South China lost in the end by 2–3.

Cheng Siu Wai was made captain of the South China invitation XI to face Manchester City FC in the Premier League/Serie A Football Day.[6]

TSW Pegasus

Cheng Siu Wai moved to TSW Pegasus FC when the club was formed at the end of 2008. He was named the club's captain. Cheng claimed he moved to get more playing time.[7] Cheng scored against South China AA in the 2008–09 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield[8] Cheng claimed beating South China was one of the teams' targets and he was very happy with the goal and victory.[9] The club went on to win the tournament by beating Sun Hei SC 3:0 in the final.[10] But after just one season at the club, he was loaned to Kitchee.

Kitchee

On 9 May 2010, Cheng Siu Wai scored two goals and helped Kitchee beat Happy Valley 6:0.[11] On 31 May 2010, Cheng Siu-wai scored the equaliser for Kitchee against Beijing Guoan Talents in the 2010 Singapore Cup, forcing extra time which Kitchee won 2:1 in the end.[12]

In the league, on 21 February 2011, Cheng Siu Wai scored in the 87th minute to help Kitchee beat Tai Po FC 2:1 to stay ahead of South China.[13] Kitchee eventually beat South China to win the 2010–11 league title.

Sun Hei

Cheng Siu Wai signed to play for Sun Hei SC on 27 June 2011.[14] Cheng said he has won numerous trophies in the past but never any individual awards. In the new season he hopes to win an individual award.[15] He scored his first goal for Sun Hei on 17 September 2011 in a 2:1 win away to Tuen Mun SA.[16] On 16 October 2011, Cheng Siu Wai became the first player to score a goal at the newly renovated Mong Kok Stadium, in a 5–0 win against Sham Shui Po SA.[17] On 22 October, Cheng Siu Wai scored the winning goal against Biu Chun Rangers, just 1 minute from the end, to secure a 1–0 win.[18] On 27 November, Cheng Siu Wai scored a goal against Tai Po FC in the 2011–12 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield quarter-final second leg match and was named Player of the month for October.[19]

Kitchee SC

Kitchee general manager Ken Ng announced that Cheng Siu Wai will return to Kitchee after spending a season in Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei.[20][21]

Eastern

Cheng joined Eastern in 2013 and made 26 appearances for the club. He retired from football in 2017 with his final match coming in Eastern's 3-0 win over Southern in the 2016-17 season playoff.[22]

International career

He has been capped 11 times at international level for Hong Kong, and he has scored 7 goals. One of them a diving header against Bahrain in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifier. It was the only goal Hong Kong managed in six qualification matches.[23] In December 2011, Cheng Siu Wai was recalled to the Hong Kong team after consistent good performances for Sun Hei SC, to play in the 2012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup. He scored with a header from a Jack Sealy pass in the first leg and the match ended 2–2.[24]

Personal life

Cheng Siu Wai grew up in a single parent family in Sheung Shui. He is the eldest son. He has a longtime girlfriend but does not plan to get married until he reaches 35 years old.

Despite his resemblance to Thierry Henry, his favourite player is David Beckham, after meeting him in an exhibition match between South China AA and Los Angeles Galaxy in 2008.[25]

Honours

South China

TSW Pegasus

Kitchee

Sun Cave JC Sun Hei

Eastern Long Lions

Hong Kong

Career statistics

International career

Updated 7 December 2012.
# Date Venue Opponent Result Scored Competition
1 1 June 2007 Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia  Indonesia 0–3 0 Friendly
2 10 June 2007 So Kon Po Recreation Ground, Hong Kong  Macau 2–1 0 Hong Kong-Macau Interport
3 21 June 2007 Estádio Campo Desportivo, Macau  Guam 15–1 1 2008 EAFF Championship Preliminary
4 21 October 2007 Gianyar Stadium, Gianyar, Indonesia  East Timor 3–2 2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 28 October 2007 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  East Timor 8–1 2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 10 November 2007 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Turkmenistan 0–0 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 18 November 2007 Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan  Turkmenistan 0–3 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 19 November 2008 Macau UST Stadium, Macau  Macau 9–1 1 Friendly
9 14 January 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  India 2–1 0 Friendly
10 21 January 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Bahrain 1–3 1 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
11 28 January 2009 Ali Muhesen Stadium, Sana'a, Yemen  Yemen 0–1 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
12 6 January 2010 National Stadium, Madinat 'Isa, Bahrain  Bahrain 0–4 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
13 14 November 2012 Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia  Malaysia 1–1 0 Friendly
14 1 December 2012 Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong  Guam 2–1 0 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round 2
15 7 December 2012 Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong  Chinese Taipei 2–0 0 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round 2

References

  1. ^ (in Chinese)要事業家庭皆得意 亨利愛碧咸 Apple Daily. 29 December 2011.
  2. ^ (in Chinese)FACEweekly 鄭少偉 天水圍 Winning Henry 亨利[permanent dead link] Next Magazine Auto Web
  3. ^ (in Chinese)旺角場今重開甲組波 Archived 5 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Ta Kung Pao. 16 October 2011.
  4. ^ (in Chinese)流浪棄鄭少偉吳偉群 Apple Daily. 2004年04月09日
  5. ^ (in Chinese)特稿 鄭少偉 04年月薪$4000 Apple Daily. 14 February 2009
  6. ^ (in Chinese)5．22迎戰曼城南華「黃金戰衣」曝光 Archived 28 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Ta Kung Pao. 24 April 2008
  7. ^ (in Chinese)天水圍飛馬成「南華B隊」 Sing Tao Daily (carried by Soccer.sina.com.hk). 7 July 2008 00:03:30
  8. ^ (in Chinese)高級組銀牌準決賽 天水圍團結淘汰南華 Apple Daily. 8 December 2008.
  9. ^ (in Chinese)星閃閃：「港版亨利」入波訓唔著 Apple Daily. 8 December 2008.
  10. ^ (in Chinese)高級組銀牌決賽 3:0炒晨曦奪銀牌　天水圍將勝利巡遊 Apple Daily. 22 December 2008.
  11. ^ (in Chinese)踢爆假波 球迷激讚 基藍馬港甲英雄 Oriental Daily. 10 May 2010 (Monday)
  12. ^ RHB Singapore Cup: Wasteful Talents sunk by Kitchee subs www.sleague.com 31 May 2010
  13. ^ (in Chinese)本地聯賽﹕傑志險勝大埔保榜首 Ming Pao. 21 February 2011 05:23:58
  14. ^ (in Chinese)簽埋亨利晨曦齊腳！ Oriental Daily 28 June 2011 (Tuesday)
  15. ^ (in Chinese)鄭少偉望攞個人獎 Oriental Daily 28 June 2011 (Tuesday)
  16. ^ (in Chinese)日之泉JC晨曦取新季首勝 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine Hong Kong Daily News. 18 September 2011.
  17. ^ (in Chinese)旺角場重開　 4,499球迷湧入 鄭少偉首球締歷史 Apple Daily. 17 October 2011.
  18. ^ (in Chinese)文： 黎永淦 晨曦1:0挫流浪上榜首[permanent dead link] Oriental Daily. 23 October 2011.
  19. ^ (in Chinese)康寶高級組銀牌 8強（次回合） 晨曦飛馬攜手晉 4強 Apple Daily. 28 November 2011.
  20. ^ 體壇快訊﹕鄭少偉回巢傑志 – Sina Archived 13 July 2012 at archive.today
  21. ^ 亨利重投傑志怀抱 – Singpao[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ (in Chinese)"鄭少偉哭別 盼「下半場」返球圈". Ming Pao. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  23. ^ (in Chinese)鐵頭功矮仔一樣得 鄭少偉變身德國轟炸機 Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Ming Pao (by Yahoo!) 15 May 2010 Saturday
  24. ^ (in Chinese)鄭少偉高梵各入一球 港隊和波唔抵！ Apple Daily. 29 December 2011.
  25. ^ (in Chinese)要事業家庭皆得意 亨利愛碧咸 Apple Daily. 29 December 2011.

External links

  • Cheng Siu Wai's Yahoo blog
  • Cheng Siu Wai at HKFA
  • Player Information on TSW Pegasus website (in Chinese)
  • "BMA Football Star" (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 29 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
None
 Pegasus captain
June 2008 – August 2009 		Succeeded by