Today's FA Cup semi-final matches at Mongkok Stadium will help define the season for all of the teams taking part.
Double Flowers, who still have to win their final league game to avoid finishing bottom, can make it a remarkable day by adding the scalp of league leaders Sun Hei to that of Happy Valley - who they defeated in the first round. Sun Hei are aiming for a treble; with the League Cup in the bag they're four wins away from adding the FA Cup and the League title to their trophy cabinet.
South China, with just the Senior Shield to their name so far, need a second Cup to salvage their campaign, while their opponents today, Buler Rangers, can cap a remarkable debut campaign for their South Korean player-coach Kim Pan-gon with a place in the FA Cup final. After starting the season unbeaten in their first 10 matches, Rangers' hopes of a first league title in 32 years effectively ended after keeper Goldbert Chi-chiu's blunder allowed South China to salvage a 2-2 draw in February, in what was to prove to be the third of four league games without a win.
As both teams trudged towards the dressing room after the final whistle, there was one player who thought his team's job was not done. In a classy gesture rarely seen from local sides, Kim made his young team line up in front of the supporters and thank them for attending the match. The 300-plus fans returned the favour with a standing ovation.
'I have always told my boys you may not end up being a very good player, no matter how hard you work, because sometimes bad things can happen. But you can always be a very good professional simply by carrying yourself like one both on and off the pitch,' said the 33-year-old left winger, who first retired from playing five years ago because of a serious leg injury but was lured back by former Hong Kong and Instant-dict coach Kwok Ka-ming in 2000. 'We might have lost out in the title race, but the important thing was the fans came here to support us and whether we won or lost, we still had to show them our gratitude. That's good manners.'
Since the influx of overseas players in the 70s, Hong Kong football fans have been treated to some dazzling skills from the likes of Derek Currie, and more recently Anto Grabo and Dale Tempest. However, only a very few have had such a direct impact on young players as the former Hyundai Motors player.
Kim's philosophy and knowledge of the game have been instrumental in Rangers' surprise surge into the league's top four this season. Teammate and assistant coach Anilton da Conceicao, a close friend of Kim's, said his arrival has injected much-needed professionalism, experience, and tactical knowledge to a squad who have only two players over the age of 25 - himself and Kim. 'It's only been half a season but he's already shown he knows everything about football,' said the 35-year-old former Sao Paulo forward. 'Last year our boys just had no idea what to do with the ball when they had possession. But he's changed everything since he got here and they are enjoying it.'