Hong Kong Sapling Cup () was a Hong Kong domestic football competition contested by the Hong Kong Premier League teams. The objective of the Cup was to provide more playing opportunities for youth players. It was discontinued after the 2024–25 season.
HK$120,000 reward goes to the winners, with the runners-up getting HK$60,000. The two other losing semi-finalists receive HK$30,000. The remaining teams get HK$15,000. The best under-22 player from each team gets HK$3,000, and player of the tournament earns an additional HK$5,000. The last Sapling Cup holder is Southern.
Competition name and rules +SeasonNameLogoFormatRules2015–16Henderson Sapling Cup (Sponsorship from Henderson Land Development) Participating teams are divided into two groups for a single round-robin tournament. Top two advance to the semi-finals.Each team must have no fewer than two players under the age of 21 and no more than six foreign players at any time.2016–17R&F Properties Sapling Cup (Sponsorship from R&F Properties)Participating teams compete in a single-elimination tournament.2017–18Sapling Cup (No sponsorship)Participating teams are divided into two groups for a single round-robin tournament. Top two advance to the semi-finals.Each team must have no fewer than two players under the age of 22 and no more than four foreign players at any time.2018–192019–20Participating teams are divided into two groups for a double round-robin tournament. Top team advances to the final.Each team must have no fewer than three players under the age of 22 and no more than four foreign players at any time.2020–21Participating teams are divided into two groups for a double round-robin tournament. Top two advance to the semi-finals.2021–22Participating teams compete in a double round-robin tournament.2022–23JC Sapling Cup (Sponsorship from Hong Kong Jockey Club) Participating teams are divided into two groups for a double round-robin tournament. Top two advance to the semi-finals.2023–242024–25Participating teams are divided into two groups for a single round-robin tournament. Top two advance to the semi-finals.
Finals Key *Match went to extra time†Match decided by a penalty shootout after extra time
Results EditionSeasonWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueAttendance12015–16Pegasus1–1 †South ChinaMong Kok Stadium2,15022016–17Tai Po2–1 *Pegasus2,95632017–18Kitchee2–1Tai PoHong Kong Stadium2,16542018–19Lee Man3–2 *Yuen LongMong Kok Stadium2,68552019–20Kitchee3–1SouthernTseung Kwan O Sports Ground062020–21Eastern2–0Happy ValleyMong Kok Stadium2,24372021–22 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong82022–23Southern2–0Lee ManMong Kok Stadium2,51992023–24Rangers1–0Kitchee3,769102024–25Southern4–0Lee Man3,072
Notes
Performance by teams TeamWinsLast final wonRunners-upLast final lostKitchee22019–2012023–24Southern22024–2512020–21Lee Man12018–1922024–25Pegasus12015–1612016–17Tai Po12016–1712017–18Eastern12020–21––Rangers12023–24––South China––12015–16Yuen Long––12018–19Happy Valley––12020–21
Players record Most appearances + RankPlayer 1 Shu Sasaki532 Leung Kwun Chung44 Wong Chun Ho4 Cheng Chin Lung43 Cheng Tsz Sum Stefan Pereira Yu Wai Lim8 Lam Ka Wai42 Wu Chun Ming10 Chan Hoi Pak41 Kessi Lam Hin Ting Tomas Maronesi
Top scorers RankPlayerGoalsAppsRatio1 Stefan Pereira32432 Mikael1933 Everton Camargo19384 Lucas Silva1723 Juninho17326 Mahama Awal1537 Shu Sasaki15538 Sandro1417 Travis Major141910 Wellingsson de Souza1329 Sun Ming Him1333
See also The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Hong Kong Premier League
References
External links FA Cup, The Hong Kong Football Association website. Hong Kong Football RSSSF – Hongkong – List of FA Cup winners