2022–23 Hong Kong Sapling Cup Explained

JC Sapling Cup
Year:2022–23
Country:Hong Kong
Dates:2 September 2022 – 20 May 2023
Num Teams:10
Defending Champions:Eastern
Champions:Southern
Runner-Up:Lee Man
Matches:43
Attendance:25506
Goals:151
Top Goal Scorer:Paulinho Simionato
(8 goals)
Player:Stefan Pereira
Prevseason:2021–22
Nextseason:2023–24

The 2022–23 Sapling Cup (named as JC Sapling Cup for sponsorship reasons) is the 8th edition of the Sapling Cup. The competition is contested by the 10 teams in the 2022–23 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team is required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 2001 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match, with no more than five foreign players on the pitch at the same time.

Eastern are the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals. Southern became the champions for the first time after beating Lee Man in the final.

The champions of the Jockey Club Sapling Cup will receive HKD$120,000 in prize money, and HKD$100,000 donation to the champions' specified organization. Meanwhile, the runner-up will receive HKD$60,000, and HKD$50,000 donation to the runner-up's specified organization. In addition, the two losing teams in the semi-finals will receive HK$30,000 while the remaining teams will receive HK$15,000.

In addition, the best U-22 player in each team will receive a prize of HKD$3,000. The most outstanding U-22 player among the selected best U-22 players from each team will receive an additional HKD$5,000 for being the best of all the U-22 players.[1]

Format

The participating teams were divided into two groups for a double round-robin tournament. Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals.

Calendar

Phase Draw Date Date Matches Clubs
Group stage20 August 2022[2] 2 September 2022 – 10 April 20234010 → 4
Semi-finals19–20 April 202324 → 2
Final20 May 2023 at Mong Kok Stadium12 → 1

Fixtures and results

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Final

Final

The final took place on 20 May 2023 at Mong Kok Stadium.

width=25!width=25
GK 25 Ng Wai Him (U-22)
CB 4 Kota Kawase
CB 6 Kessi
CF 7
RB 8 Lee Ka Yiu
CM 11 Shu Sasaki (c)
CB 12 Tomas Maronesi
CF 17
RW 18 Mahama Awal
CM 23 Yung Ho (U-22)
LW 28 Chen Ngo Hin (U-22)
Substitutes:
GK 29 Tse Tak Him
CB 5 Dudu
CM 14 Ho Chun Ting
LB 16 Chak Ting Fung
LW 19 Jahangir Khan
MF 21 Hardikpreet Singh (U-22)
CM 24
MF 26 Chan Hoi Pak
MF 27 Lo Kam Wang (U-22)
CB 44
RW 67 Seb Buddle
Head Coach:
Cheng Siu Chung
width=25!width=25
GK 26
RB 3 Tsui Wang Kit (c)
CB 5
CF 9
AM 10
LB 12 Law Cheuk Hei (U-22)
CB 14
CM 18 Zachary Hui (U-22)
RW 24 Cheng Chun Wang (U-22)
DM 33 Diego Eli
LW 91 Gil
Substitutes:
GK 92 Tang Tsz Long (U-22)
LB 4 Ryoya Tachibana
LW 7 Lee Hong Lim
RW 11
DM 16
RB 21 Tsang Kam To
AM 23
DF 29 Yu Pui Hong
DF 30 Liang Ngai Tung (U-22)
DF 37 Leung Lap Tin (U-22)
AM 44
CB 94 Alie Sesay
Head Coach:
Tsang Chiu Tat
Player of the Match:
Stefan Pereira (Southern)

Assistant Referees


Fok Pong Shing
Wong Ping Chung
Fourth Official


Law Bik Chi

Match rules
  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals[3]
1 Paulinho SimionatoTai Po8
2 Jean MoserSouthern7
3 Stefan PereiraSouthern6
4 Everton CamargoLee Man5
5 PaulinhoHKFC4
Shu SasakiSouthern
GilLee Man
Sun Ming HimEastern
JuninhoRangers
1011 players3

Awards

Best U-22 Player

Prize Team Winner
Best U-22 Player in Each TeamKitchee Yuen Chun Him
Eastern Chung Hoi Man
Lee Man Law Cheuk Hei
Southern Ng Wai Him
Rangers Lo Siu Kei
Tai Po Kwok Chun Nok
HKFC Timothy Chow
Resources Capital Yip Cheuk Man
Sham Shui Po Tai Ting Hong
HK U23 Chan Yun Tung
Best of all U-22 PlayersSouthern

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 馬會冠名贊助菁英盃 10支港超球會均獲獎金鼓勵. 17 January 2023. Football Weekly HK.
  2. https://www.hkfa.com/news_details2/19198
  3. https://www.hkfa.com/en/leaguesp?type=5%20Shooter