Brian Fok Explained

Fullname:Brian Fok
Birth Date:1994 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Kaduna, Nigeria
Height:1.90m
Position:Centre back
Youthyears1:1999
Youthclubs1:Kaduna Football Academy
Youthyears2:2004
Youthclubs2:HKFC Soccer Section
Youthyears3:2009
Youthclubs3:Yau Tsim Mong
Youthyears4:2010
Youthclubs4:Rangers (HKG)
Youthyears5:2012
Youthclubs5:Brooke House College
Years1:2010–2011
Clubs1:Rangers (HKG)
Caps1:6
Goals1:0
Years2:2011–2012
Clubs2:Rangers (HKG)
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Years3:2014–2019
Clubs3:Shanghai Shenhua
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2015
Clubs4:→ CF Cracks (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2016
Clubs5:ACS Berceni (loan)
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2016
Clubs6:AZAL (loan)
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Years7:2018
Clubs7:Juventud (loan)
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Years8:2018–2019
Clubs8:Académico Viseu (loan)
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Years9:2019–2020
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:2021–2022
Clubs10:HKFC
Caps10:0
Goals10:0
Years11:2022–2023
Clubs11:Happy Valley
Caps11:24
Goals11:6
Nationalyears1:2005–2006
Nationalteam1:Hong Kong U-17
Nationalyears2:2009–2010
Nationalteam2:Hong Kong U-20
Nationalyears3:2011–2012
Nationalteam3:Hong Kong U-23
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:1
Youthyears6:2013
Youthclubs6:Jamie Lawrence Football Academy

Brian Fok (; born 8 March 1994) is a former Nigerian-born Hong Kong professional footballer who played as a centre back.

Club career

Born 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

In October 2021, Fok offered a bribe HKFC player to Jean Maciel and Marcus McMillan to play an unfair match against Hong Kong Rangers.[7] However, both players rejected and report 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

Since 2005, Brian has been playing for different age groups of Hong Kong National youth team.[10]

Honours

Kitchee

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brian Fok pledges his international future to Nigeria.
  2. Web site: WEF EXCLUSIVE: HONG KONG YOUTH INTERNATIONAL BRIAN FOK SIGNS FOR SHANGHAI SHENHUA. wildeastfootball.net. Wild East Football. 25 October 2016. 1 March 2014.
  3. http://www.sportcalarasean.ro/mihalcea-vrea-sa-aduca-un-chinez-nigerian-de-la-berceni/ Mihalcea vrea sa aduca un chinez nigerian de la Berceni - Romanian teams want to sign Brian FOK
  4. Web site: AZAL 6 futbolçu ilə yollarını ayırdı. azalpfc.az. AZAL PFK. 26 December 2016. 24 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130851/http://www.azalpfc.az/shownews.php?id=409#top#top. 27 December 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: 下一站南美﹗前U22港腳霍斌仁轉戰烏拉圭次級聯賽. Upower. 21 February 2018.
  6. Web site: 霍斌仁回流香港 成傑志來季首名新後衛. Sportsroad.hk. 15 July 2019.
  7. Web site: 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 . 2024-02-18 . www.mingpaocanada.com . en.
  8. Web site: 2024-02-15 . 假波案⎮ 廉署去年拘 23 人 今落案控三球員一艇仔 . 2024-02-18 . Yahoo News . zh-Hant-HK.
  9. Web site: Standard . The . Three footballers and betting agent charged for bribes and match-fixing . 2024-02-15 . The Standard . en.
  10. http://www.sl10.ng/news/articles/categories/nigeria-players-abroad/shanghai-shenhua-s-hong-kong-youth-teamer-brian-fok-pledges-international-future-to-nigeria/200324 Brian FOK pledges his international future