“I haven’t decided if I’ll return to the Premier League, because I now have a job as a youth team coach,” said Chan, who last played in the top flight for Southern. “I need to think a bit more about my future.

“But scoring two goals in the final is something very special. I must thank some of my experienced teammates who helped to set me up to score both times.”

Tai Po veteran Ye Jia proved he still had the ability to conduct matters in midfield, weaving most of his team’s attacking inroads at the age of 40. And he was instrumental in creating the equaliser, after his shot was deflected for a corner. Ye took the set-piece, and he found Chan at the far post to find the net with a neat finish.

The League Cup remained the only trophy available in Hong Kong’s domestic season after the city’s government shut down all facilities in January in an effort to contain the latest wave of Covid-19 infections.

The Premier League season was eventually abandoned the following month, but the amateur First Division and the lower leagues resumed action in late May with the cup tournament.

Wofoo Tai Po eye statement with cup triumph before top-flight return

Tai Po have committed to rejoining the top flight at the invitation of the Hong Kong Football Association, but they are not aiming too high for their first season back. They lifted the championship as recently as 2019.

“Our target is to nurture more young players for Hong Kong football,” club chairman Lam Yick-kuen said. “We have also set aside a budget of around HK$8 million and will not be setting ourselves a target of regaining the championship. After all, the Premier League is very competitive and we will be relative newcomers.”

Lam said that the club had already secured the services of two foreign players, both from Brazil, and that their former coach Li Hang-wui would return to the club to take charge of the team again.

“The coach will bring some new players in and we will start our preseason soon,” Lam said.

After clinching the title in 2019, Tai Po were unable to finish the next season, as they became engulfed by financial problems. They chose to drop down to the First Division the following year.

Sham Shui Po, too, will be in next season’s top division, and their defeated coach Ko Chun-kay said that Hong Kong football was the winner after Sunday’s final, with fans almost filling the 1,200-seat venue after being offered free entry.

“The atmosphere was very good for two amateur sides, with so many fans to attending,” said Ko, who confirmed that his club were to join Tai Po in the Premier League. “It proved Hong Kong football still has a future.

Football returns on Sunday as South China face Eastern District in League Cup

“The match was even – we both had chances. We lack the know-how of how to hold on to a slender advantage, but Tai Po did that well after going ahead. They are more experienced.”

Ko said that his club would have a limited budget of around HK$5 million and were unlikely to be able to compete with the bigger clubs.

“Our target is to provide young players with more opportunities,” he said. “After all, they are the future of Hong Kong football.”