Hong Kong Footballer Matt Orr on New Footballing Challenges in China

Former Kitchee FC striker Matt Orr has become the talk of the town in recent months, becoming the face for Hong Kong football regionally, instrumental in driving Kitchee’s success abroad, and defining himself as a model heartthrob locally.

The 25-year-old part-Kiwi, part-Hong Konger was influential in helping Hong Kong’s national team reach a spot in the 2023 Asian Cup, beating Afghanistan, Cambodia, and India in the third round. He also helped his former club become the first Hong Kong team to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Asian Champions League.

As the Hong Konger announced a shock end to his Kitchee career, which saw his 17-year-long journey with his childhood club come to an end, Matt has his eyes set on joining China League One, playing professionally with club Guangxi Pingguo Haliao F.C. in south China.

The Beat Asia caught up with Matt to discuss his two decades of playing football, his relationship with Kitchee FC, representing Hong Kong, and his new challenges and ambitions playing professionally in China.

Where did football come into your life growing up in Hong Kong? Did you foresee yourself becoming a professional athlete when you joined Kitchee at the age of 8?

"From four or five, I already had a ball at my feet. My dad was a professional footballer, and he drilled into me pretty early. I've always had my mind for as long as I can remember that I wanted to make football a full-time profession."

"When I joined Kitchee, I began to realise this dream. You get to look at the standard of football in Hong Kong and local players and teams. I really dominated football during my youth years, and that’s why I left for the States, because I needed to progress my game further and get out of Hong Kong and see what the level was like outside [Hong Kong]."

"Joining [Kitchee’s academy at 11 years old] was a great opportunity. They have the best youth system in Hong Kong since I joined them. That's when I really dialled in and got football a real guy."

What was it like to balance school at Canadian International School and play semi-professionally as a teenager?

"It was tough prioritising the high level of school education in Hong Kong with playing [football]. Canadian [International School] being a good school, they struggled to understand my commitments to playing football, having to leave school early, or miss a week for a tour."

"My school life and relationship with football weren't working, which made me leave the States for another reason [to work and study at IMG Academy in Florida]. It wasn't the easiest ride balancing between Canadian and football."

What was it like to travel to Florida and then San Francisco to play professionally as a young Hong Kong footballer?

"It took a lot of time to adapt, as I'd never spent an extended amount of time in the States. Getting thrown straight into a competitive environment daily, and meeting so many kids trying to get into the first team of this football academy. It was a complete culture shock."

"The atmosphere, environment, and facilities of IMG Academy in Florida are top notch. They helped facilitate and make life easy in that adapting process."

"The goal was never to return to Hong Kong. [At IMG Academy and at the University of San Francisco], I could study whilst also playing football at a very high level. If you don’t make it, you still have a backup."

"I loved my time in the U.S. I would definitely recommend that to any young aspiring footballer. After I finished playing at Syracuse [University] in New York, I had the opportunity to play in the Second Division below the MLS. But I decided against that, as my style of football better suited Asia. I [returned] to Hong Kong and signed for Kitchee. The club gave me a great opportunity and exposure, playing good competitions across Asia."

What were your previous three years like playing for Kitchee and Hong Kong’s national team?

"I had a great relationship with Kitchee. Every time I returned to Hong Kong over the breaks, I’d come and train with the first teams. The coaches made it clear that after I was finished in the U.S., they would love me to sign professionally. It was important for me to want to get back and represent Hong Kong onto the national team."

"To play in the big tournaments around Asia. I really trusted the people and coaches that they could handle my development and guide me in the right direction. It was the full package, and that appealed to me to come back."

"When you play for your country at competitions of [the] magnitude [of AFC Cup and World Cup qualifiers], that's when you realise how big these games are and how important they are to yourself and your football career, but also the people back home, because you represent the place you grew up in. To make history for Hong Kong this year to qualify for the Asia Cup was tough, to put into words how special that felt."

How do you feel about moving to China to play professionally in the China League Two with Guangxi Pingguo Haliao F.C.?

"I needed a new challenge and went to a bigger and better league. I was looking for that next challenge, because domestic football in Hong Kong is not the highest level. I was always looking to move on eventually. The right opportunity came, and I felt the time was right now, so I made that step into China."

"I thought a lot about [leaving my childhood club, Kitchee]. The ultimate decision came down to me, and what I wanted was to make that move. At the end of the day, the dream has always been to try and get to as [high a level] as possible. As an athlete, you're always trying to find new challenges. My goal is to develop and improve as much as possible daily, and constantly compete against the best I can, which I felt the domestic league and Hong Kong wasn't giving me. I can find that in China with so many teams and huge investment."

"I'm at a good age now at 25, where I need to start progressing more and more, so I felt it was the right time to move."

What ambitions do you have for playing professionally in China and in your future football career?

"The goal is to do well in the China League One and transfer to the [Chinese] Super League, joining the best 16 teams in China. I’ve set my sights on this, but I know I have to focus on what's in front of me now and focus on doing well, with my next team and hopefully, in a couple of years, I can join the Super League."

"It’s the daily competition that I will try to find, pushing myself and improving daily. I want to make my mark in China, a huge country. The future is determined by what you do now in the present. I have to be present and make sure I do all the things that hold me accountable to [everything] that got me here in the first place. It will be hard work, ambition, discipline, and consistency."

Thanks for chatting with us, Matt!

"My pleasure, thank you!"