Dai Wai-tsun

Tsun Dai
戴偉浚
Personal information
Full name Dai Wai Tsun
Date of birth (1999-07-25) 25 July 1999
Place of birth Hong Kong
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Oxford United
Number 25
Youth career
2007–2009 Eastern
2009–2012 Kitchee
2012–2016 Reading
2016–2017 Bury
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Bury 8[1] (0)
2018– Oxford United 0 (0)
National team‡
2012–2013 Hong Kong U-15
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 June 2016

Dai Wai Tsun (Chinese: 戴偉浚; Cantonese Yale: Daai Wáihjeun; born 25 July 1999), also known as Tsun Dai, is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays for club Oxford United. He plays as a midfielder and holds both a China (Hong Kong) and British passport, so he is eligible to represent either Hong Kong or England internationally.

Dai is one of two Hongkongers to have appeared in an English professional match, former Blackpool player Cheung Chi Doy being the other.

Early life

Dai was born in Hong Kong and was inspired to play football by his father who once played for Hong Kong's youth teams. He started playing the sport at the young age of 4, joining Eastern's youth system for a chance to become an international footballer. Dai later joined the Hong Kong Barcelona Football academy and trained with players born in 2000.

At first, he played in a defensive midfield position and was placed under the spotlight, and was often the captain as he showed his leadership skills on the pitch. He has participated in youth matches with Hong Kong Barcelona Football Academy in Spain and Poland, and his father's support was a major factor of his youth success compared with his peers. He moved to England for a chance to get training of a higher quality,[2] and joined the Reading youth team and enrolled in Hall Grove School and then Bradfield College.

He was also called up multiple times to the Hong Kong youth squads while in England, and played in multiple international youth competitions.[3]

Career

Bury

After leaving Reading he was invited by Bury for a trial, and joined the Bury youth system under the name Tsun Dai.

2017–18 season

After the 2016–17 season, Bury announced that 11 players were leaving the club, but gave Dai his first professional contract and the number 25 shirt, making him the second Hong Kong footballer to sign a contract with an English team.[4] His first game for Bury was a pre-season start against Sunderland on 8 July 2017. He helped build the second goal for Bury that allowed them to lead 2–1 before half-time, albeit not being credited with an assist. He was substituted off in the second half, and the match ended 3–2 to Sunderland. Bury manager, Lee Clark, stated that he was satisfied with Dai's performance and that he had vast potential.[5]

On 16 July, he played his second game coming off the bench against Huddersfield Town and earned a lot of compliment for his outstanding performance. His third match and second start for Bury was against Macclesfield, and played the entire match. Although the team lost 1–0, Dai's performance further improved and impressed both the coaches of Bury and the opponent. He received a 3-year extension to his contract, which would now last to 2020.[6]

Dai made his first league appearance for Bury on 5 August 2017 in a 1–0 win against Walsall, coming on as a substitute in the 60th minute.[7] In doing so, he became the second Hong Kong footballer to appear in an English professional match and the first to do so in 55 years.[8] Dai made his first competitive start for Bury five days later in a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland in the First Round of 2017–18 EFL Cup.[9]

Dai scored his first career goal for Bury as a consolation goal during their EFL Trophy tie against Fleetwood Town F.C.[10]

Oxford United

Dai signed for Oxford United on 9 August 2018, for an undisclosed fee, on a two-year contract.[11] In September 2018 he was called up to the preliminary squad of the Hong Kong national team.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of 26 August 2017.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League One FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Bury 2017–18 8000102 1111
Total 80001021111
Career total 80001021111

Personal life

Bury's website states that Dai holds both a British and a Hong Kong passport.[13] His father is also an avid football supporter and has played for youth teams in Hong Kong, and goes to support his son every single match. His mother, who works in Hong Kong, visits them every few months. As Dai has played for Eastern's youth squad and has supported them since a young age, he has stated that if he ever has the chance to return to play in his native Hong Kong he would only play for Eastern.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "DAI TSUN". Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ↑ 【港人踢英甲】港版足球小將月薪八千 戴偉浚誓圓父子英超夢 蘋果日報 18 June 2017 (in Chinese)
  3. ↑ 港產足球小將戴偉浚獲英甲貝利職業合約 Upower 18 June 2017 (in Chinese)
  4. ↑ 2016/17 Retained List Bury Football Club 5 May 2017
  5. ↑ 【香港勁揪】17歲港足球小將踢英甲貝利正選 友賽「黑貓」獲教練大讚 蘋果日報 8 July 2017 (in Chinese)
  6. ↑ 【英甲】港將戴偉浚獲貝利續約3年　友賽踢足全場不欺場 香港01 19 July 2017 (in Chinese)
  7. ↑ "Report: Shakers make the perfect start". Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  8. ↑ Porteous, James. "A future star? Hong Kong teenager Dai Wai-tsun looks set to make debut in English professional football after impressing in preseason friendly". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Match Report". Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Do or Dai: Tsun scores first professional goal for Bury but struggling Shakers crash out of Checkatrade Trophy". South China Morning Post. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  11. ↑ "Tsun Dai Joins The U's". Oxford United F.C. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Tsun Dai Gets Hong Kong Call Up". Oxford United F.C. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "New Deal for Tsun Dai". Bury FC. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "戴偉浚 之 低調外流". Fanpiece. Retrieved 16 July 2017. (in traditional Chinese (HK))
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