Football: BC Rangers players given HK$1 million incentive with unlikely cup double on the cards
- Underdogs now in FA and Sapling Cup semi-finals after last winning silverware in 1995 – when they also claimed a double
- ‘No one could have thought of this considering our budget when the season began,’ executive director Philip Lee Fai-lap says
BC Rangers have given their players a HK$1 million incentive as they challenge for an unlikely double after reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and JS Sapling Cup.
Despite a limited annual budget of around HK$7 million, the club – who last won silverware in 1995 with a Senior Shield and FA Cup double – are also riding high in the Hong Kong Premier League in fourth place.
“No one could have thought of this result considering our budget when the season began,” Rangers executive director Philip Lee Fai-lap said.
“But thanks to the hard work of the players and some key changes made by the management, we are now able to enjoy one of our best seasons.”
Rangers sent favourites Kitchee out of the Sapling Cup after two victories over the top team in the group stage. They first beat them 2-1 in January before registering another 1-0 win last month in the competition, where clubs have to field three under-22 players per match.
“The two wins over Kitchee is one of our best moments so far this season and this is partly because we have some very strong young players that have been developed by our youth policy,” Lee said.
