Sun Pegasus FC may cease to exist by the end of this season, as their main sponsor has decided to withdraw their investment from the club. Several key players have already announced their departure.
The club was founded in 2008 as Tin Shui Wai Pegasus (TSW Pegasus) with the help of former South China chairman Steven Lo. Given his involvement and the acquisition of several former “Caroliners”, Pegasus were soon dubbed as the “South China B Team”. This also laid the foundation for an exciting rivalry between the two teams and their “derby” has become one of the league highlights over the last years.
After the 2011/12 season, the club was taken over by Sun International Group, which is listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has also been involved in the local horse racing-market (in fact, equine business is part of its current company portfolio). Since then, Sun Pegasus continued to claim its spot among Hong Kong’s “Big Four” (along with Kitchee, Eastern and South China), especially in terms of its financial potency. However, after dropping “Tin Shui Wai” from the club name, they also lost their affiliation with the local community of the satellite town in the New Territories, where most of its previous youth development work was situated. Soon after, Sun Pegasus moved to Mong Kok Stadium, sharing the same home ground with Kitchee SC.
Although the team finished 3rd in the inaugural Premier League season and only lost momentum after an inspiring series of victories, they failed to live up to the wide-spread expectations that the side would gain their first trophy. With the most recent defeat against YFCMD in the 2014/15 Season Playoff semi-final, the fate of Sun Pegasus has apparently been decided: Sun International Group will pull out and the club will have to find a new sponsor as soon as possible in order to continue operations next year.
30-year-old key player Deng Jinghuang tried hard to fight back his tears after the last game against YFCMD when announcing that he will return to Guangzhou. Australian goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson, who transferred last year from Western Sydney Wanderers, has also already confirmed his departure from Hong Kong.
Offside.hk will keep you updated about the future of the club. Meanwhile, we wish the players and fans all the best, while hoping to see a Pegasus team again in the coming Premier League season. Ideally one that doesn’t shy away from its roots. Could there be hope for a rebirth of TSW Pegasus?
Photo source: Sun Pegasus FC (https://www.facebook.com/sunpegasus)
Martin
June 12, 2015 at 3:45 pm
A real shame that, Eastern fell away badly at the end of the season but if they pick up a few players in the close season they could do some damage.