JC Sapling Cup | |
Year: | 2023–24 |
Country: | Hong Kong |
Dates: | 30 September 2023 – 15 May 2024 |
Num Teams: | 11 |
Defending Champions: | Southern |
Winners: | Rangers |
Second: | Kitchee |
Matches: | 53 |
Attendance: | 21288 |
Goals: | 209 |
Scoring Leader: | Noah Baffoe Ismael Dunga Mikael Nassam Ibrahim (7 goals each) |
Prev Season: | 2022–23 |
Next Season: | 2024–25 |
Updated: | 15 May 2024 |
The 2023–24 Hong Kong Sapling Cup (named as JC Sapling Cup for sponsorship reasons) is the 9th edition of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup. The competition is contested by the 11 teams in the 2023–24 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team is required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 2002 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match.
Southern are the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals. Rangers became the champions for the first time after beating Kitchee in the final.
The champions of the JC 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]
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.
Phase | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group stage | 20 September 2023 | 30 September 2023 – 24 March 2024 | 50 | 11 → 4 |
Semi-finals | 3, 10 April 2024 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
Final | 15 May 2024 | 1 | 2 → 1 |
Rank | Player | Club | Goals[2] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Noah Baffoe | Eastern | 7 |
Ismael Dunga | Sham Shui Po | ||
Mikael | Kitchee | ||
Nassam Ibrahim | Rangers | ||
5 | Lucas | Tai Po | 6 |
6 | Mahama Awal | Southern | 5 |
Léo | HKFC | ||
8 | 9 players | 4 | |
Prize | Team | Winner | |
---|---|---|---|
Best U-22 Player in Each Team[3] | Eastern | Ma Hei Wai | |
HKFC | Lee Chun Yin | ||
HK U23 | Lee Lok Him | ||
Kitchee | Chan Shinichi | ||
Lee Man | Poon Sheung Hei | ||
Rangers | Chiu Ching Yu | ||
Resources Capital | Pong Cheuk Hei | ||
Southern | Ng Wai Him | ||
Tai Po | Wong Hin Sum | ||
Sham Shui Po | Chang Kwong Yin | ||
Best of all U-22 Players | Rangers | Chiu Ching Yu |