Hong Kong's Leon Jones eager for Asian Cup qualifier

Leon Jones, the captain of Hong Kong’s defense, is excited for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore. He views the energy of big games as a key reason for his love of football. Jones aims to help his team secure a spot in the Saudi Arabia 2027 tournament, especially after missing the chance to compete in Qatar last year due to injury. Hong Kong's team hopes to start their quest for the Asian Cup with a record-extending eighth straight victory. Jones, preparing for his 10th international match at the 55,000-seat Singapore National Stadium, emphasized the need to keep calm. He mentioned that while big games are thrilling, he prefers to treat it like any other important match. The team is riding a wave of confidence after winning their last seven games. During this winning streak, they have only conceded two goals and kept five clean sheets. This success comes after a tough start under head coach Ashley Westwood, who saw the team lose their first game 1-0 to Liechtenstein. Jones noted that the players have become more comfortable with Westwood's coaching style, forming a solid back three with teammates from the Chinese Super League.