2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League
# 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League

The 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League, also known as 2012–13 Red MR Hong Kong First Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 101st since its establishment.

Kitchee were the defending champions, won their 5th Hong Kong title in the previous season. The season featured 8 teams from the 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League and two new teams promoted from 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division League: Kam Fung, which then renamed as Biu Chun Rangers, and Southern District who replace relegated Sham Shui Po and Hong Kong Sapling.

## Teams

A total of 10 teams contested the league, including eight sides from the 2011–12 season and two promoted from the 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division League.

### Stadia and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.

| Team | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
| - | - | - | - |
| Biu Chun $Rangers^1$ | Sham Shui Po Sports Ground | Sham Shui Po | 2,194 |
| Citizen | Mong Kok Stadium | Mong Kok | 6,680 |
| Kitchee | Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground | Tseung Kwan O | $3,500^2$ |
| South China | Hong Kong Stadium | So Kon Po | 40,000 |
| Southern | Aberdeen Sports $Ground^3$ | Aberdeen | $4,000^4$ |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | Mong Kok Stadium | Mong Kok | 6,680 |
| Sun $Pegasus^5$ | Yuen Long Stadium | Yuen Long | 4,932 |
| Tuen Mun | Tuen Mun Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground | Tuen Mun | 2,200 |
| Wofoo Tai Po | Tai Po Sports Ground | Tai Po | 3,000 |
| Yokohama FC Hong $Kong^6$ | Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground | Siu Sai Wan | 12,000 |

$^1$ Renamed Biu Chun Rangers, previously known as Kam Fung. $^2$ The capacity of Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground can be increased to 5,000 if the temporary stand is opened. $^3$ After successfully gaining the right to play in the 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League on 8 April 2012, Southern plan to continue using Aberdeen Sports Ground as their home ground in the First Division League. $^4$ The capacity of Aberdeen Sports Ground is originally 9,000, but only the 4,000-seated main stand is opened for football match. $^5$ Renamed as Sun Pegasus, previously known as TSW Pegasus. $^6$ Renamed as Yokohama FC Hong Kong, previously known as Biu Chun Rangers.

### Personnel and kits

| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kitmaker | Shirt sponsor |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Biu Chun Rangers | Mok Yiu Keung | Chan Hung Ping | Wong Chin Hung | Xtep | odm |
| Citizen | Pui Kwan Kay | Chu Kwok Kuen | Festus Baise | Jako | Rasonic |
| Kitchee | Ken Ng | Josep Gombau | Chu Siu Kei | Nike | Canon |
| South China | Steven Lo | Liu Chun Fai | Lee Chi Ho | Adidas | Panasonic Corporation |
| Southern | Wong Ling Sun | Fung Hoi Man | Wisdom Fofo Agbo | Nike | Motion Media |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | Chow Man Leung | Chan Fat Chi | Roberto Orlando | Adidas | Sunray Cave |
| Sun Pegasus | Cheng Ting Kong | Chan Chi Hong | Jaimes McKee | Adidas | PlayStation |
| Tuen Mun | Lau Wong Fat | Yan Lik Kin | Li Haiqiang | Adidas | Hong Kong Motor Inspection |
| Wofoo Tai Po | Cheung Hok Ming | Cheung Po Chun | Chan Yuk Chi | Adidas | Lee & Man Paper |
| Yokohama FC Hong Kong | Hiroshi Onodera | Lee Chi Kin | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | Nike | LEOC |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South China | Ján Kocian | Sacked | 19 May 2012 | Pre-season | Liu Chun Fai | 9 July 2012 |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | José Ricardo Rambo | End of Contract | 23 May 2012 | Pre-season | Tim Bredbury | 1 June 2012 |
| Yokohama FC HK | Tim Bredbury | Signed by Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | 1 June 2012 | Pre-season | Lee Chi Kin | |
| Sun Pegasus | Chan Hiu Ming | Sacked | 14 June 2012 | Pre-season | Chan Ho Yin | 10 July 2012 |
| Rangers | Chan Chi Kwong | | | Pre-season | Goran Paulić | |
| Sun Pegasus | Chan Ho Yin | Sacked | 9 October 2012 | 6th | Chan Chi Hong | |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | Tim Bredbury | Contract terminated | 23 October 2012 | 9th | Chiu Chung Man | |

### Foreign players

The number of foreign players was restricted to six per team.

| Club | Visa 1 | Visa 2 | Visa 3 | Visa 4 | Visa 5 | Visa 6 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hong Kong Rangers | Giovane Silva | Miroslav Saric | Sashi Chalwe | Juninho | Luciano Silva | |
| Citizen | Detinho | Hélio | Paulinho | Gustavo Silva | Sandro | Yuto Nakamura |
| Kitchee | Dani Cancela | Pablo Couñago | Yago González | Fernando Recio | Jordi Tarrés | Zesh Rehman |
| South China | Alessandro Celin | Dhiego Martins | Joel Bertoti Padilha | Itaparica | Ticão | Victor Chou |
| Southern | Paul Ngue | Jonathan Carril | Rubén López | Lander Panera | Dieguito | |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | Roberto Júnior | Jean-Jacques Kilama | Mamadou Barry | José María | Yrel Bouet | Su Yang |
| Sun Pegasus | Vladimir Karalić | Paulo Cesar | Eugene Mbome | Igor Miović | Josip Škorić | Kim Dong-Ryeol |
| Tuen Mun | Beto | Daniel | Diego Eli | Mauricio | | |
| Wofoo Tai Po | Clayton | Naves Aender | Alex Akande | Caleb Ekwegwo | | |
| Yokohama FC Hong Kong | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | Taiki Murai | Čedomir Mijanović | Mirko Teodorović | N/A | Kenji Fukuda |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | South China (C) | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 46 | 21 | +25 | 36 | 2014 AFC Champions League play-off stage |
| 2 | Kitchee | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 32 | 2014 AFC Cup |
| 3 | Tuen Mun | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 28 | 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-off |
| 4 | Southern | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 24 | 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-off |
| 5 | Sun Pegasus | 18 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 21 | |
| 6 | Hong Kong Rangers | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 32 | 52 | −20 | 20 | |
| 7 | Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 26 | 33 | −7 | 20 | |
| 8 | Citizen | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 27 | +4 | 20 | |
| 9 | Yokohama FC Hong Kong | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 25 | 34 | −9 | 20 | |
| 10 | Wofoo Tai Po (R) | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 44 | −10 | 19 | 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-off and relegation to the 2013–14 Hong Kong Second Division League |

* ↑ Kitchee won the 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-off and thus qualified for the 2014 AFC Cup Group stage.
* ↑ Southern qualified for the play-offs as Kitchee defeated Sun Pegasus in the FA Cup while they have guaranteed a place for the play-offs, meaning the league 4th place qualifies.
* 1 2 3 4 HKR 3–3 CIT, HKR 2–2 SUN, HKR 1–1 YHK; CIT 2–3 HKR, CIT 1–2 SUN, CIT 3–0 YHK; SUN 2–2 HKR, SUN 1–1 CIT, SUN 1–1 YHK; YHK 2–4 HKR, YHK 1–1 CIT, YHK 2–0 SUN
* ↑ Wofoo Tai Po won the 2012–13 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield and thus qualified for the 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-off along with Southern District whom qualified due to Kitchee winning the FA Cup along with coming runners up in the league.

### Positions by round

As there is a special fixture arrangement for rounds 7 and 8, in order 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.

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South China | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kitchee | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Tuen Mun | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Southern | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Sun Pegasus | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 |
| Hong Kong Rangers | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Citizen | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| Yokohama FC Hong Kong | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Wofoo Tai Po | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 |

* 2014 AFC Cup group stage
* 2012–13 Hong Kong Season play-offs
* Relegation to 2013–14 Hong Kong Second Division League

## Results table

| Home \ Away | HKR | CIT | KIT | SCA | SOU | SUN | SPS | TMN | TPO | YHK |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hong Kong Rangers | | 3–3 | 2–7 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–8 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Citizen | 2–3 | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 7–3 | 3–0 |
| Kitchee | 1–2 | 3–2 | | 1–4 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| South China | 6–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 5–2 |
| Southern | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | | 2–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Sun Pegasus | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 4–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 |
| Tuen Mun | 1–0 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Wofoo Tai Po | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | | 2–3 |
| Yokohama FC Hong Kong | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | |

## Fixtures and results

### Round 18

Remarks: $^1$ The capacity of Aberdeen Sports Ground is originally 9,000, but only the 4,000-seated main stand is opened for football match. $^2$ Yokohama FC Hong Kong's home matches against Kitchee and South China are played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground. $^3$ Biu Chun Rangers's home matches against South China and Kitchee are played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Sham Shui Po Sports Ground. $^4$ South China's home matches against Biu Chun Rangers will be played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Hong Kong Stadium. $^5$ The match was abandoned after 28 minutes due to adverse weather and bad pitch conditions. $^6$ Since the 3,500-seated main stand was all full, the 1,500 temporary stand was opened and therefore the capacity of Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was 5,000 in the home match against South China.

## Season play-offs

The play-off semi-finals were played in one match each, contested by the teams who finished in 2nd and 3rd in the 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League table, the champions of Senior Challenge Shield and the winners of FA Cup. The winners of the semi-finals went through to the finals, with the winner of the final gaining 2014 AFC Cup participation.

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CW/L2 | Kitchee | 2 | | | |
| L4 | Southern | 0 | | | |
| L4 | Southern | 0 | CW/L2 | Kitchee | 3 |
| | | | L3 | Tuen Mun | 0 |
| L3 | Tuen Mun | 2 | L3 | Tuen Mun | 0 |
| SW | Wofoo Tai Po | 1 | | | |

## Season statistics

### Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Jaimes McKee | Sun Pegasus | 16 |
| 2 | Alex Tayo Akande | Wofoo Tai Po | 13 |
| 3 | Giovane Silva | Biu Chun Rangers | 11 |
| 3 | Itaparica | South China | 11 |
| 5 | Tsuyoshi Yoshitake | Yokohama FC HK | 9 |
| 6 | Jonathan Carril | Kitchee Southern | 8 |
| 7 | Yuto Nakamura | Citizen | 7 |
| 7 | Jordi Tarrés | Kitchee | 7 |
| 7 | Pablo Couñago | Kitchee | 7 |
| 7 | Mamadou Barry | Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei | 7 |
| 7 | Daniel Goulart Quevedo | Tuen Mun | 7 |
| 7 | Christian Annan | Wofoo Tai Po | 7 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Alex Tayo Akande | Wofoo Tai Po | Biu Chun Rangers | 4–1 | 16 September 2012 |
| Detinho | Citizen | Wofoo Tai Po | 7–3 | 11 November 2012 |
| Yuto Nakamura | Citizen | Tuen Mun | 5–0 | 29 March 2013 |
| Jaimes $McKee^5$ | Sun Pegasus | Biu Chun Rangers | 8–2 | 4 May 2013 |

* $^5$ Player scored 5 goals in the match.

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Ng Wai Chiu for Sun Pegasus against Wofoo Tai Po (31 August 2012)
* Fastest goal of the season: 0 minute and 50 seconds, Ng Wai Chiu for Sun Pegasus against Wofoo Tai Po (31 August 2012)
* Widest winning margin: 6 goals
   * Biu Chun Rangers 2–8 Sun Pegasus (Week 18, 4 May 2013)
* Highest scoring game: 10 goals
   * Citizen 7–3 Wofoo Tai Po (Week 8, 11 November 2012)
   * Biu Chun Rangers 2–8 Sun Pegasus (Week 18, 4 May 2013)

### Discipline

* Most yellow cards (player): 7
   * Eugene Mbome (Sun Pegasus)
   * Mauricio Correa Da Luz (Tuen Mun)
* Most yellow cards in a match (club): 6
   * South China (Week 4, South China 1–0 Kitchee)
* Most yellow cards in total (club): 46
   * Sun Pegasus
* Most red cards in a match (club): 2
   * Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei (Week 4, Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei 2–2 Biu Chun Rangers)
   * Yokohama FC Hong Kong (Week 5, Yokohama FC Hong Kong 1–4 Kitchee)
* Most red cards in total (club): 5
   * Yokohama FC Hong Kong

### Clean Sheets

* Most clean sheets: 5
   * South China
   * Citizen
* Fewest clean sheets: 0
   * Biu Chun Rangers
   * Wofoo Tai Po

## Awards

### Monthly awards

The monthly awards are organised by the Hong Kong Sports Press Association. 20 journalists who specialise in football in Hong Kong will vote their best player of the month. Player with the highest number of votes wins the award.

| Year | Month | Winner | Club |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2012 | September | Lee Chi Ho | South China |
| 2012 | October | Detinho | Citizen |
| 2012 | November | Detinho | Citizen |
| 2012 | December | Lee Wai Lim | South China |
| 2013 | January | Au Yeung Yiu Chung | South China |
| 2013 | February | Christian Annan | Wofoo Tai Po |
| 2013 | March | Zhang Chunhui | Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei |
| 2013 | April | Li Haiqiang | Tuen Mun |
| 2013 | May | Jordi Tarrés | Kitchee |
