The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has unveiled the creative process behind the massive 44m x 26m Tifo displayed during Tuesday’s match against India at Kai Tak Sports Park, revealing that the entire project—from conception to execution—was completed in just one week.
In a radio program on Thursday, HKFA General Secretary Charles Cheung Yim-yau and marketing manager Ho shared how the idea came to life, including an unexpected Dragon Ball twist.
HKFA General Secretary Charles Cheung Yim-yau. (File)
A last-minute idea to boost fan engagement
Cheung explained that the HKFA had been working for over a year to strengthen ties with fans.
"We started thinking about ways to interact more with supporters and understand what they wanted," he said. Before the Kai Tak match, discussions with fan groups led to the idea of creating something special for the new stadium.
The inspiration came after seeing fans craft handmade paper displays during Hong Kong’s previous match against Nepal at the Hong Kong Stadium.
"We thought, Could we do something bigger at Kai Tak?" Cheung said. While Tifos are common in international football, they are rare in Hong Kong—especially one of this scale.
A race against time
Ho, who coordinated the project, said the HKFA wanted to surprise the players and fans. After consulting supporters during the Nepal match, fan groups loved the idea but doubted it could be done in less than a week.
"I immediately said we could make it happen," she recalled. The HKFA agreed to cover the full production cost, calling it "a gift to the players." The supplier worked around the clock, receiving the order last Friday and delivering the Tifo by Tuesday.
The Dragon Ball connection
When asked about the Tifo’s dragon design, Ho laughed, "Our marketing designer is a huge Dragon Ball fan—he even has a Shenron figure on his desk!" She also noted that the team wanted an intimidating yet iconic image to unsettle opponents.
In Dragon Ball, Shenron grants wishes—so what’s her wish for the Hong Kong team? "I hope they win every match!" she said.
Future plans and costs
Whether the Tifo will be reused remains undecided. "We might make an even bigger one next time," Ho said, adding that some fans proposed cutting the current display into smaller pieces for fans to keep as souvenirs, should the tifo not be reused.
As for the cost, she declined to give figures but hinted at a "friendly discount" from the supplier. When the host guessed if it exceeded HK$100,000, Cheung interjected, "That’s too much!"
Player walkout intros added last minute
The pre-match video of player walkouts was another last-minute addition, according to Ho.
"We only told the players after the Nepal game, telling them to show up to training on the next day with their hair styled!" Ho said. The high-definition clips were possible thanks to Kai Tak’s advanced facilities.
"Our team practically camped at the stadium the night before, testing everything," she added.
The HKFA hopes such initiatives will not only energize die-hard fans but also attract new audiences to local football. With more surprises in store, Hong Kong’s football culture might just be entering a new era.
Marco Lam (marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com)
