Glasgow Rangers to make debut at HK 7's 2004

Hamed Namouchi, tipped as the "hottest prospect in French football" by BBC Sports last September,will lead Glasgow Rangers to participate in the Hong Kong 7's 2004 on May 29 and 30, said the organizers on Tuesday.

The Scottish league giant, winning 50 league titles including anine-year reign from 1989 to 1997, will make their debut in the Hong Kong 7's, a soccer game with seven players against the other sevens initialized here years ago.

The club announced Tuesday a young squad featuring the 20-year-old French-Tunisian midfielder Namouchi and 17-year-old hometown prodigy Ross McCormack.

Namouchi bagged three goals this season in only four appearances, of which three were as a substitute, for the Rangers first team. He had been training with Chelsea but chose to sign with Rangers despite interests from the big-spender.

McCormack has already scored over 20 goals for Rangers' youth sides.

Nicknamed "Bomber" and voted one of the club's greatest 100 players, coach John Brown looks set to bring home some silverwarefrom the tournament, according to the organizers.

Shanghai Shenhua SVA SMEG Football Club, the 2003 China first division League Champions, has recently confirmed to participate in the event for the third time.

Shenhua Manager Dai Chunhua said, "The Hong Kong 7's has alwaysbeen a great event for our players to gain international experience. It is an honor again to be participating in the tournament and we hope to be the champion of this year."

Shanghai Shenhua won its first China League title in 1995 and was crowned league champions again last year. The club won the China FA Cup for the first time in 1998 and were the runners-up in1995 and 1997.