2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League Explained

Competition:Hong Kong Premier League
Season:2019–20
Num Season:6
Winners:Kitchee
Relegated:Tai Po
Yuen Long
Dates:30 August 2019 – 11 October 2020
Continentalcup1: League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:Kitchee
Continentalcup2:AFC Cup
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Eastern
Lee Man
League Topscorer:Serges Déblé
Igor Sartori
(6 goals)
Biggest Home Win:R&F 8–0 Yuen Long
(19 October 2019)
Biggest Away Win:R&F 0–4 Eastern
(14 September 2019)
Highest Scoring:R&F 8–0 Yuen Long
(19 October 2019)
Yuen Long 4–4 Rangers
(30 November 2019)

Rangers 1–7 R&F
(22 December 2019)
Matches:60
Total Goals:214
Longest Wins:4 matches
Eastern
R&F
Longest Winless:9 matches
Yuen Long
Longest Losses:3 matches
Tai Po
Pegasus
Yuen Long
Rangers
Highest Attendance:2,772

(30 August 2019)
Lowest Attendance:240
Rangers 1–7 R&F
(22 December 2019)
Attendance:34,903
Average Attendance:793
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21

The 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League (also known as the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Hong Kong Premier League, the top division of Hong Kong football.

Kitchee became the champions for the fourth time. Igor Sartori and Serges Déblé were the joint top goalscorers with 6 goals. Tai Po and Yuen Long self-relegated to the Hong Kong First Division.

Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic

Due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong, the HKFA announced on 16 April 2020 that all the HKPL matches after 18 March 2020 will be postponed and the 2019–20 season will be resumed not earlier than mid-August, with an aim to finish by early November this year. No relegation will occur this year.[1]

On 30 April 2020, HKFA announced Rangers, Yuen Long and Pegasus announced their withdrawal from the remaining matches this season. Their eligibility for the HKPL next season will remain secure, and the league standing will be adjusted according to the Article D.8 of Competition Regulations: “If any Participating Club ceases to participate in the Competition during the course of the season, the record of the matches of the Competition in which its playing team has participated shall be expunged from the league table”.[2]

On 29 May 2020, Tai Po announced that they, too, would drop out from the restart of the season.[3] This means that there were only 6 teams left in the remaining of the season.

On 17 September 2020, HKFA announced that the season will resume on 19 September 2020 and end on 11 October 2020.[4]

Teams

A total of 10 teams contest the league, including eight sides from the 2018–19 Hong Kong Premier League and two promoted from the 2018–19 Hong Kong First Division, replacing relegated Dreams FC and Hoi King. On 11 July 2019, Dreams FC decided to self-relegate to the Hong Kong First Division due to lack of funds.[5] The Hong Kong Football Association held an emergency board meeting on the 15th, during which the board voted to allow Dreams FC to relegate into the First Division and invite Rangers into the HKPL.[6]

ClubFoundedPosition
Last Season
Tai Po20021st
R&F20162nd
Southern20023rd
Kitchee19314th
Eastern19325th
Pegasus20086th
Yuen Long19587th
Lee Man20179th
Happy Valley19501st in First Division
Rangers19583rd in First Division

Stadia and locations

Primary venues used in the Hong Kong Premier League:

Southern &
Kitchee
Tai PoLee Man
Mong Kok StadiumTai Po Sports GroundSham Shui Po Sports Ground
Capacity: 6,769Capacity: 3,200Capacity: 2,194
R&FHappy ValleyYuen Long
Yanzigang StadiumHammer Hill Road Sports GroundYuen Long Stadium
Capacity: 1,000Capacity: 2,200Capacity: 5,000
EasternPegasusRangers
Tseung Kwan O Sports GroundHong Kong StadiumTuen Mun Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground
Capacity: 3,500Capacity: 40,000Capacity: 2,200

Personnel and kits

TeamPresidentHead CoachCaptainKit ManufacturerKit sponsor
EasternLam Kin Ming Lee Chi Kin Leung Chun PongAdidasTopeast
Happy ValleyChen Zhishi Pau Ka Yiu Mahir KarićAdidasWorld Electronic Sports Games
KitcheeKen Ng Chu Chi Kwong Huang YangNikeedps, Lippo Group
PegasusSteven Lo Man Pei Tak Chan Siu KiAdidasRedMR Cosmos
Lee ManNorman Lee Chan Hiu Ming Fernando RecioAdidasLee & Man Chemical
RangersPeter Mok Chiu Chung Man
Wong Chin Hung
Lai Ka Fai
TomasKelmeBjorn Hendal Sweden
SouthernMatthew Wong Zesh Rehman Tse Tak HimMacronIsuzu
Tai PoGary Choy Davor Berber DuduNikeLippo Limited
Yuen LongWilson Wong Kwok Kar Lok Fábio LopesKelmePanaShop
R&F Huang Shenghua Yeung Ching Kwong RobertoUcanR&F Properties

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Yuen Long Kwok Kar LokEnd of Contract30 May 2019Pre-season Chan Man Chun3 August 2019
Tai Po Lee Chi KinMutual Consent26 June 2019 Kwok Kar Lok
Fung Hoi Man
29 July 2019
Kitchee Chu Chi KwongChange of Role3 July 2019 Blaž Slišković3 July 2019
Pegasus Chan Ho YinEnd of Contract16 July 2019 Man Pei Tak16 July 2019
Eastern Andrejs ŠtolcersChange of Role17 July 2019 Lee Chi Kin17 July 2019
Tai Po Kwok Kar LokResigned6 November 20196th
Tai Po Fung Hoi ManChange of Role16 January 20206th Davor Berber16 January 2020
Yuen Long Chan Man ChunChange of Role1 February 20209th Kwok Kar Lok1 February 2020
Southern Cheng Siu ChungMutual Consent16 March 20203rd Pui Ho Wang
Cristiano Cordeiro
16 March 2020
Kitchee Blaž SliškovićChange of Role23 March 20203rd Chu Chi Kwong23 March 2020
Yuen Long Kwok Kar LokMutual Consent2 May 20209th
Southern Pui Ho Wang
Cristiano Cordeiro
End of Caretaker Roles16 May 20203rd Zesh Rehman16 May 2020

Foreign players

The number of foreign players is restricted to seven (including one Asian player and one Chinese player) per team, with no more than four on pitch during matches.

ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Asian PlayerChinese PlayerFormer/Unregistered Players
Eastern Everton Eduardo Praes João Emir Lucas Silva Chen Hao-wei Jean Moser
Fernando
Happy Valley Luciano Edu Cruz
Igor Miović
Mahir Karić
Manuel Gavilán
Marko Rajković
Mikael
Kitchee Cleiton Wellingsson Tomas Manuel Gavilán Nikola Komazec Park Jun-heong Krisztián Vadócz
Lucas Silva
Paulo César
Fernando
Manuel Bleda
Lee Man Gil Jonathan Acosta Michaël N'dri Serhiy Shapoval Bruno Pinheiro Diogo Rangel
Southern Stefan Pereira Shu Sasaki Kota Kawase Zesh Rehman Nikola Komazec
Dhiego Martins
Ticão
Gabriel Méndez
Travis Major
Pedro Mendes
R&F Igor Sartori Dudu Serges Déblé Adama Guira Daniel Angulo Zhou Yuchen Emmerson
Chen Zirong
Ji Xiangzheng
Fu Yunlong
Tiago Leonço
Pegasus Juninho
Jorge Ortí
Gabriel Méndez
Charles Lokolingoy
Marcos Gondra
Shu Sasaki
David Lazari
Jean Moser
Mahama Awal
Michael Glassock
Tai Po Paulo César
Michel Lugo
Benjamin Van Meurs
Dudu
Željko Kuzmić
Kim Min-ki
Kim Seung-yong
Yuen Long Katê
Kessi
Juninho
Mikael
Maicon Santana
Wang Ruei
Rangers Leandro Bazán
Diego Cañete
Ji Xiangzheng
Tomas
Stefan Pereira
Pablo Leguizamón

League table

Head to head

Positions by round

To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.

Fixtures and results

Resume Round 5 (Origin Round 12 & 18)

Notes

Season statistics

Top scorers

[7]

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Serges DébléR&F12
2 Michaël N'driLee Man10
3 Igor SartoriR&F9
4 Travis MajorSouthern8
WellingssonKitchee
6 SandroTai Po/Eastern7
GiovaneR&F
8 Leandro BazánRangers6
Manuel GavilánHappy Valley/Kitchee
10 Nikola KomazecSouthern/Kitchee5
11 Charles LokolingoyPegasus4
James HaSouthern
Everton CamargoEastern
Manolo BledaKitchee
Shu SasakiPegasus/Southern
Lucas SilvaKitchee/Eastern

Hat-tricks

Note: The results column shows the scorer's team score first. Teams in bold are home teams.

PlayerNationalityFor !Against Result Date Ref
1Michaël N'driLee ManPegasus4–2 [8]
2Serges Déblé 4R&FYuen Long8–0 [9]
3Serges DébléR&FLee Man5–1 [10]
4Serges DébléR&FHappy Valley5–2 [11]
5WellingssonKitcheeHappy Valley4–0 [12]
6Leong Ka HangLee ManSouthern4–0 [13]
Note4 The player scored 4 goals.

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Match(es)
1 Zhou YuchenR&F6
2 Yapp Hung FaiEastern5
3 Wang ZhenpengKitchee4
Yuen Ho ChunLee Man
5 To Chun KiuHappy Valley2
6 Yip Ka YuYuen Long1
Tse Tak HimSouthern

Awards

Monthly Most Valuable Player

MonthMost Valuable PlayerReferences
width=150pxPlayerwidth=90px Club
August & September Michaël N'driLee Man[14] [15]
October Serges DébléR&F[16] [17]
November GiovaneR&F[18] [19]
December Ngan Lok FungLee Man[20] [21]
January WellingssonKitchee
February Sun Ming HimTai Po
March SandroEastern
September & October Shinichi ChanKitchee

This year's Hong Kong Top Footballer Awards was cancelled due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Announcement on 2019–20 and 2020–21 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League. HKFA. 16 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Announcement on the latest updates of 2019–20 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League. HKFA. 30 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Chan. Kin-wa. McNicol. Andrew. Hong Kong Premier League down to six teams after Wofoo Tai Po withdraw due to financial problems. South China Morning Post. 29 May 2020 . 29 May 2020.
  4. Web site: Arrangement on resuming matches for 2019–2020 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League, Sapling Cup, FA Cup. HKFA. 17 September 2020.
  5. Web site: 夢想足球隊 Dreams FC - 球迷、傳媒及各方好友:.... Facebook. 夢想足球隊 Dreams FC. 11 July 2019.
  6. Web site: Yuen. Chi Ho. 足總通過夢想退賽申請 港甲季軍標準流浪獲邀升班. HK01. 15 July 2019 . 15 July 2019. zh-hk.
  7. Web site: Hong Kong Football Association – Top Scorers . . 1 September 2019.
  8. Web site: Lee Man 4 Pegasus 2. 1 September 2019. Hong Kong Football Association.
  9. Web site: R&F 8 Yuen Long 0. 19 October 2019. Hong Kong Football Association.
  10. Web site: R&F 5 Lee Man 1. 2 November 2019. Hong Kong Football Association.
  11. Web site: Happy Valley 2 R&F 5. 25 September 2020. Hong Kong Football Association.
  12. Web site: Kitchee 4 Happy Valley 0. 11 October 2020. Hong Kong Football Association.
  13. Web site: Lee Man 4 Southern 0. 11 October 2020. Hong Kong Football Association.
  14. Web site: BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League Monthly MVP Award 2019–2020 . HKFA . 22 October 2019.
  15. Web site: Lee Man striker Michael N'dri earns BOC Life HKPL MVP honor (August & September 2019) . HKFA . 21 October 2019.
  16. Web site: Lethal R&F marksman Serge Deble bags BOC Life HKPL MVP honor (October 2019) . HKFA . 4 December 2019.
  17. Web site: 港超聯 10月MVP係迪布利! . 23 November 2019 . on.cc . 23 November 2019.
  18. Web site: R&F striker Giovane Da Silva earns BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League MVP honor (November 2019) . HKFA . 2 January 2020.
  19. Web site: 港超聯 基奥雲尼膺11月MVP . 25 December 2019 . on.cc . 25 December 2019.
  20. Web site: Lee Man's Ngan Lok-fung lands BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League MVP honor (December 2019) . HKFA . 19 March 2020.
  21. Web site: 港超聯 顏樂楓膺11月MVP . 18 March 2020 . on.cc . 18 March 2020.