The Lunar New Year cup: A football tradition

The 2014 Lunar New Year Cup is still months away, but the anticipation can already be felt within the football community. In line with this, let us take a brief look at the cup's history and most recent event, the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup.

 The Lunar New Year Cup is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated football event in Hong Kong. Fans of the sport, as well as online sportsbook enthusiasts, beam at the thought of seeing some of Asia's finest football teams and players battling it out on the pitch. Formerly known as the Carlsberg Cup, this annual football competition organized by the HKFA (Hong Kong Football Association) is held simultaneously with the celebration of the Chinese New Year; hence the name of the tournament.>

It would be safe to say that due to the sheer magnitude of this event, various sports betting tips regarding the teams participating in the tournament can be found on the internet. Established in 1948, The Lunar New Year Cup can be considered as one of the coveted silverwares in Asian football. Last year's tournament, the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup, saw South Korean football powerhouse Busan IPark bagging the title by edging Shanghai East Asia, 1-0. The Hong Kong Stadium was packed with more than five thousand fans in attendance, all anticipating a classic match between the two Asian football rivals.

The teams pitted against each other didn't disappoint, with both showing beautiful and masterful displays of football in the early minutes. Fans and those active in betting on sports may have found the event thrilling with the early action. It was in the 37th minute though, when the South Korean fans jumped with delight with a goal from Brazilian José Fágner Silva da Luz. The skillful attacking midfielder's goal was the only goal of the match which saw the 2013 Lunar New Year Cup stay in South Korea for the second straight year.

Football fans from Hong Kong were treated to great games of football, including a classic finals match that year. Hong Kong League XI, the home team and obviously the crowd favorite, may have failed to reach the finals, but still gave the Hong Kong fans with much to cheer about with a win in the Third Place match against a quality opponent in Muangthong United. Anyone who knew or read the odds on Bodog football at www.bodog88.com would have known how tough of a football team and an opponent Muangthong United is. That is the reason, perhaps, why the Hong Kong all-star team's 1-0 victory over the Thai football team was worthy of a celebration.

It is of very little doubt that the past Lunar New Year Cup brought fans of the sport the time of their lives. This annual event have proven every year how it can produce competitive matches that further promotes the sport of football in the country. The odds and news about the event that can be found on the best sportsbooks such as Bodog sports betting is another proof of the huge impact that the Lunar New Year Cup brings to the football community. The event also gives the Hong Kong National Football Team the chance to compete with the best in Asia; thus further improving the skills of the country's talented club. This annual cup is a great preparation for the Hong Kong national team to other tournaments such as the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Qualifiers.

We, the fans, can expect that the 2014 Lunar New Year Cup will be another successful event. With the tournament's history of giving fans with exciting and quality football matches, we can expect nothing less when we fill the seats at the Hong Kong Stadium next year.