Brian Fok (Chinese: 霍斌仁; born 8 March 1994) is a former Nigerian-born Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a centre back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian Fok | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaduna, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999 | Kaduna Football Academy | ||
| 2004 | HKFC Soccer Section | ||
| 2009 | Yau Tsim Mong | ||
| 2010 | Rangers (HKG) | ||
| 2012 | Brooke House College | ||
| 2013 | Jamie Lawrence Football Academy | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Rangers (HKG) | 6 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | Rangers (HKG) | 3 | (0) |
| 2014–2019 | Shanghai Shenhua | 0 | (0) |
| 2015 | → CF Cracks (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2016 | → ACS Berceni (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2016 | → AZAL (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2018 | → Juventud (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Académico Viseu (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Kitchee | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | HKFC | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Happy Valley | 24 | (6) |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | Hong Kong U-17 | ||
| 2009–2010 | Hong Kong U-20 | ||
| 2011–2012 | Hong Kong U-23 | 14 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editBorn in Kaduna, Nigeria to a Nigerian Yoruba mother and a Hong Kongese father,[1] Brian started to have professional football training in Kaduna Football Academy at the age of 5. In 2004, he moved from Nigeria to Hong Kong. After moving in Hong Kong, Brian trained and played for the youth football team of HKFC Soccer Section, Yau Tsim Mong and Hong Kong Rangers. Brian completed his high school education at Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School (West Kowloon). Brian was also the 200 meter dash champion for 4 years running at the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation (HKSSF) Athletics Meet.
In 2010, Fok played as an amateur for Rangers in Hong Kong Second Division. In 2011, Brian rejoined Rangers and made his professional debut in February 2012 as a late substitute against Tai Po. On 20 May 2012, Brian started as line-up against Kitchee and played for the whole match which they lost 1–4.
In 2012, Fok studied in England at the Brooke House College Football Academy for 1-year professional football training. In 2013, Brian moved to train and play for Jamie Lawrence Football Academy.
In 2014, Fok went for trial at Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, going on to sign a three-year deal with the club.[2]
In December 2014, Fok joined Spanish Club CF Cracks on a half season loan, played 6 matches for the club as a centre back and also as a centre forward.
In February 2016, Shanghai Shenhua allowed Brian to join Berceni on a half season loan to gain first team experience.[3]
In August 2016, Fok joined Azerbaijan Premier League club AZAL PFK on a half season loan deal, making his debut as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Gabala on 19 September 2016. The appearance meant Fok was the first Hong Kong player to play in Azerbaijan and the 4th Hong Kong player to play in Europe. On 6 November 2016, Brian started and played full match against Gabala, the match ended at a draw 0:0. Fok left AZAL on 24 December 2016 following the conclusion of his loan.[4]
On 21 February 2018, Fok joined Uruguayan Segunda División club Juventud on a half season loan.[5]
On 13 August 2018, Fok signed a 2 years deal and transferred to LigaPro club Académico de Viseu.
On 15 July 2019, Fok returned to Hong Kong and signed for Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee.[6] He played his first game for the club on 10 September 2019 against Lee Man in a Senior Shield match, in which Kitchee was beaten 5-1 and Fok was substituted in the 2nd half.
In October 2020, Fok retired from professional football. However, he came out of retirement in 2021 when he joined newly promoted HKFC for the 2021–22 season of the HKPL.
2021 Hong Kong match fixing scandal
editIn October 2021, Fok offered a bribe to fellow HKFC players Jean Maciel and Marcus McMillan to play an unfair match against Hong Kong Rangers.[7] However, both players rejected the offer and reported it to the club. In May 2023, the ICAC arrested 11 football players, including Fok.[8]
On 15 February 2024, Fok was charged by ICAC for match-fixing.[9]
International career
editSince 2005, Brian has been playing for different age groups of Hong Kong National youth team.[10]
Honours
edit- Kitchee
References
edit- ^ "Brian Fok pledges his international future to Nigeria".
- ^ "WEF EXCLUSIVE: HONG KONG YOUTH INTERNATIONAL BRIAN FOK SIGNS FOR SHANGHAI SHENHUA". wildeastfootball.net. Wild East Football. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ Mihalcea vrea sa aduca un chinez nigerian de la Berceni - Romanian teams want to sign Brian FOK Archived 21 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine 《sportcalarasean.ro》 11 July 2016
- ^ "AZAL 6 futbolçu ilə yollarını ayırdı". azalpfc.az. AZAL PFK. 24 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "下一站南美﹗前U22港腳霍斌仁轉戰烏拉圭次級聯賽". Upower. Retrieved 21 February 2018. (in Chinese)
- ^ "霍斌仁回流香港 成傑志來季首名新後衛". Sportsroad.hk. Retrieved 15 July 2019. (in Chinese)
- ^ Pao, Ming. "涉假波賭外圍 3球員1「艇仔」被控 起訴行賄及串謀賭博作弊 兩隊友拒受賄告發". www.mingpaocanada.com. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ "假波案⎮ 廉署去年拘 23 人 今落案控三球員一艇仔". Yahoo News (in Chinese). 15 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Standard, The. "Three footballers and betting agent charged for bribes and match-fixing". The Standard. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Brian FOK pledges his international future 《SL10 Nigeria》 6 Feb 2015