Sapling Cup final: Southern thump shellshocked Lee Man for shock triumph
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South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
The Hong Kong football coach hoping to lead Chinese Taipei to 2027 World Cup
Chan Hiu-ming watched his Chinese Taipei team give China a fright, then spelled out his ambition to break new ground as the first Hongkonger to coach at a World Cup. The team ranked 42nd in the world battled back from 2-0 down in Hwaseong on Sunday, before a pair of late goals spared China's blushes and earned them a 4-2 East Asian Football Championship victory. Chan said that when he took over, in May 2023, he inherited a 'passive team' who against the best sides tried 'for an acceptable defeat'. he said. 'Now, we try to play with the ball, press and force mistakes,' the 50-year-old added. The former Lee Man boss had been planning a break after leaving the Hong Kong Premier League club in early 2023, but the opportunity to coach at international level proved irresistible, especially when it involved a side that came within a penalty shoot-out of reaching the last World Cup. 'In men's football, I wouldn't be able to touch this … I'm helping players grow, and fight against top-20 teams,' Chan, who has won 13 and lost 13 of 27 games in charge, said. 'The potential for a World Cup was the original motivation for me to join. It's what the girls are dreaming of, and it's not mission impossible.'
South China Morning Post
01-07-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong fallen giants Lee Man and Kitchee swing axe to release 25 players
Deposed Hong Kong champions Lee Man have announced a 12-player clear-out following the club's barren 2024-25 campaign. Advertisement Henri Anier, the local league's joint-top scorer during Lee Man's invincible 2023-24 season, is among the headline departures. Defender Ryan Tafazolli has left following the expiry of his loan from Wycombe Wanderers, while Brazilian forwards Paulinho Simionato and Samuel Rosa have not had their contracts renewed. Timothy Chow, the 19-year-old Hong Kong defender, is moving to university in America. Szeto Man-chun, the assistant coach, has also left Lee Man. The club appointed Chu Siu-kei as permanent boss following the end of the season, after the 45-year-old stepped in as interim following Matt Holland's axing in March. With Ryoya Tachibana the only foreigner still on Lee Man's books, and a number of the remaining key players the wrong side of 30, Chu has a huge rebuilding job on his hands. Advertisement However, Lee Man are expected to sign prolific striker Noah Baffoe, who left Eastern this summer after scoring 65 goals in two seasons with the club. Midfielder Barak Braunshtain, who is in the process of applying for a Hong Kong passport, is set to arrive from BC Rangers.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Tai Po win Hong Kong Premier League after Lee Man's 15 minutes of madness
Tai Po have won the Hong Kong Premier League in sensational fashion after they swept aside North District 3-1, while 10-man Lee Man crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat by the outstanding BC Rangers. Lee Man had appeared in pole position to claim their second straight title when they began the final day with a one-point advantage over the district club. But there was a dramatic twist when Guilherme Biteco, the midfielder on loan at Rangers from Tai Po, squirmed a 74th-minute shot through the weak resistance of Chan Ka-ho. With five minutes remaining, Luizinho slid in Lau Chi-lok, who kept his composure to slip a low finish across Lee Man No 1 Chan. Lau struck again in similar fashion after 89 minutes, sweeping home first time from a Barak Braunshtain pass. Lee Man, who twice hit the woodwork in the first half, were dealt a huge blow when left-back Ryoya Tachibana collected his second yellow card for a cynical trip on Luizinho after 51 minutes. Tai Po, meanwhile, were 3-0 in front after an hour against North District, following a double for Lucas Silva, either side of Patrick Valverde's effort late in the first half.
