Yapp Hung Fai
Introduction '''Yapp Hung Fai''' (,  ; born 21 March 1990) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern. He currently keeps the record for being the most capped player of the Hong Kong national football team, with 90 caps in total.
Club career Born in a Hakka family, Yapp finished his studies at Form 5 level. He was accepted by Queen's College Old Boys Association Secondary School for Form 6 but he gave it up to pursue his football dream. He had already represented Hong Kong at under-17 level.===Workable===Yapp Hung Fai started his professional career at Workable when he was only 17 under coach Lee Kin Wo and Chan Hiu Ming in 2007.His salary was only HK$5,000.During his time at Workable FC, he helped the team to an unexpected 1:0 win against South China AA in the 2007-08 Hong Kong League Cup.===Pegasus===Yapp Hung Fai moved to Pegasus in 2009.After helping the club beat Citizen AA 2:1 to win the 2009-10 Hong Kong FA Cup and qualify for the 2011 AFC Cup, Yapp Hung Fai announced that he will join league champions South China AA along with teammate Lau Nim Yat. Yapp said he decided to join South China before the game and South China's Hong Kong location will be easier for him to attend school. He is also not worried about competing with Zhang Chunhui for the starting goalkeeper place.===South China===In 2010, Yapp Hung Fai moved to Hong Kong First Division League champions South China AA. On 29 September 2010, during Tottenham Hotspur's chief scout Ian Broomfield's visit to South China, he praised Yapp for his enormous potential. "This goalkeeper is not tall, but his reactions are sharp and he is quick to come out of the box to block strikers. He is also very committed and very well disciplined. "After defeating East Bengal in the 2011 AFC Cup game at home on 14 April 2011, South China striker Mateja Kezman suggested that Yapp Hung Fai has what it takes to play in European football leagues.During the summer of 2013, Yapp had agreed to a 4.5-year contract with Guizhou Renhe. However, his registration was denied by the Chinese Football Association on the grounds that Yapp did not qualify as a domestic player and as such, would violate the Chinese Super League stipulations which require all keepers to be domestic players.===Eastern===In June 2014, Yapp returned to Eastern after his contract with South China expired.In 2016, Yapp helped Eastern win the first Hong Kong Premier League Trophy.On 28 September 2020, Yapp also helped Eastern win the 19-20 FA Cup. It is the fifth FA cup trophy for Eastern.
International career ===Hong Kong===On 11 February 2010, at the age of 19, Yapp made his senior debut for Hong Kong in a 2010 East Asian Football Championship match against Japan.In 2011, Yapp took part in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification matches for Hong Kong against Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong lost the tie 0–8.In the 2012 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, the first match at Hong Kong Stadium ended 2–2.After the second match ended as 0–0 in Huizhou Stadium, Yapp Hung-Fai saved three penalties in the penalty shoot-out to help Hong Kong win by 5–4.He is once again hailed as Hong Kong's cup winning hero.On 10 September 2019, Hong Kong faced Iran in a match of 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification. Yapp got his 71st cap for the national team with FIFA "A" international match, making him the most capped player of the team.On 26 December 2023, Yapp was named in Hong Kong's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Honours ===Club==='''South China'''*Hong Kong First Division: 2012–13*Hong Kong FA Cup: 2010–11*Hong Kong League Cup: 2010–11'''Pegasus'''*Hong Kong FA Cup: 2009–10'''Eastern'''*Hong Kong Premier League: 2015–16*Hong Kong FA Cup: 2019–20*Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2020–21===International==='''Hong Kong U-23'''*East Asian Games: 2009: Gold===Individual===*Hong Kong Best Youth Player: 2010, 2013*Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Year: 2010–17, 2021*Hong Kong Footballer of the Year: 2016
Career statistics === Club ===''As of 14 May 2023''ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupOther CupsContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsWorkable2007–08Hong Kong First Division League130101000150Eastern2008–09210101000230Pegasus2009–10160302000210South China2010–111002020602002011–121701050002302012–131705040002602013–14130203020200Total1070150180801480Eastern2014–15Hong Kong Premier League1403030002002015–161501030001902016–172002040503102017–181601050102302018–191801020002102019–201304030002002020–211600020202002021–2240201020902022–23180203000230Total13401602601001860Career total24103104401803340;Notes===International=== National teamYearAppsGoalsHong Kong 2010  5  0 2011  5  0 2012  10  0 2013  7  0 2014  8  0 2015  11  0 2016  8  0 2017  8  0 2018  6  0 2019  8  0 2020  0  0 2021  3  0 2022  3  0 2023  6  0 2024  2  0Total900#DateVenueOpponentResultConcededCaptainCompetition111 February 2010National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan0–3-32010 East Asian Football Championship214 February 2010National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan0–2-22010 East Asian Football Championship33 March 2010Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–002011 AFC Asian Cup qualification49 October 2010Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan4–2-22010 Long Teng Cup512 October 2010Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan1–1-12010 Long Teng Cup69 February 2011Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur0–2-2Friendly723 July 2011Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia0–3-32014 FIFA World Cup qualification828 July 2011Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, Hong Kong0–5-52014 FIFA World Cup qualification930 September 2011Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan3–3-32011 Long Teng Cup104 October 2011Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan6–002011 Long Teng Cup1129 February 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong5–1-1Friendly121 June 2012Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong1–00Friendly1310 June 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong1–2-2Friendly1415 August 2012Jurong West Stadium, Jurong West, Singapore0–2-2Friendly1516 October 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–3-3Friendly1614 November 2012Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia1–1-1Friendly171 December 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong2–1-12013 EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition Round 2183 December 2012Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–1-12013 EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition Round 2197 December 2012Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–002013 EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition Round 2209 December 2012Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–4-42013 EAFF East Asian Cup Preliminary Competition Round 2216 February 2013Pakhtakor Stadium, Uzbekistan0–002015 AFC Asian Cup qualification2222 March 2013Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong1–002015 AFC Asian Cup qualification234 June 2013Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–1-1Friendly2410 September 2013Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong1–00Friendly2515 October 2013Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–4 -42015 AFC Asian Cup qualification2615 November 2013Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates0–4 -42015 AFC Asian Cup qualification2719 November 2013Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–2 -2(c)2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification285 March 2014Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam1–3 -32015 AFC Asian Cup qualification296 September 2014Lach Tray Stadium, Hai Phong, Vietnam1–3 -3Friendly309 September 2014Hougang Stadium, Singapore0–00Friendly3110 October 2014Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong2–1 -1Friendly3214 October 2014Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–7 -7Friendly3313 November 2014Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan1–2 -2(c)2015 EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round 23416 November 2014Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan1–00(c)2015 EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round 23519 November 2014Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan0–00(c)2015 EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round 23628 March 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong1–00Friendly376 June 2015Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia0–00(c)Friendly3811 June 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong7–00(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification3916 June 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong2–00(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification404 September 2015Bao'an Stadium, Shenzhen, China0–002018 FIFA World Cup qualification418 September 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong2–3 -3(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification428 October 2015Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand0–1 -1(c)Friendly4313 October 2015Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan1–00(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification447 November 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong5–00(c)Friendly4512 November 2015National Football Stadium, Male, Maldives1–00(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification4617 November 2015Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–00(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification4724 March 2016Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar0–2 -2(c)2018 FIFA World Cup qualification483 June 2016Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar2–202016 AYA Bank Cup491 September 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong4–2 -2(c)Friendly506 October 2016Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia2–00(c)Friendly5111 October 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong2–00(c)Friendly526 November 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong3–2 -2(c)EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017 Round 2539 November 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong4–2 -2(c)EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017 Round 25412 November 2016Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–1 -1(c)EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017 Round 25528 March 2017Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon0–2 -2(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification567 June 2017Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–00(c)Friendly5713 June 2017Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong1–1 -1(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification585 September 2017Hang Jebat Stadium, Malacca City, Malaysia1–1 -1(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification595 October 2017Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong4–00(c)Friendly6010 October 2017Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–00(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification619 November 2017Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–2 -2(c)Friendly6214 November 2017Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–1 -1(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification6327 March 2018Kim Il-sung Stadium, Pyongyang, North Korea0–2 -2(c)2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification6411 October 2018Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–1 -1(c)Friendly6516 October 2018Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Cikarang, Indonesia1–1 -1(c)Friendly6611 November 2018Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan2–1 -12019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 26713 November 2018Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan0–002019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 26816 November 2018Taipei Municipal Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan1–5 -12019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Round 26911 June 2019Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong0–2-2Friendly705 September 2019Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia1–1-12022 FIFA World Cup qualification7110 September 2019Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–2-22022 FIFA World Cup qualification7210 October 2019Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq0–2-22022 FIFA World Cup qualification7314 November 2019Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–002022 FIFA World Cup qualification7419 November 2019Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–002022 FIFA World Cup qualification7511 December 2019Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan, South Korea0–2-22019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship7619 December 2019Busan Asiad Main Stadium, Busan, South Korea0–2-22019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship773 June 2021Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain1–3 -32022 FIFA World Cup qualification7811 June 2021Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain0–1 -12022 FIFA World Cup qualification7915 June 2021Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain0–4 -42022 FIFA World Cup qualification8011 June 2022Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India3–0 02023 AFC Asian Cup qualification8114 June 2022Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India0–4 -42023 AFC Asian Cup qualification8224 September 2022Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–00(c)Friendly8328 March 2023Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor, Malaysia0–2 -2(c)Friendly8415 June 2023Lạch Tray Stadium, Hai Phong, Vietnam0–1 0Friendly8519 June 2023Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong0–1 -1Friendly867 September 2023National Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia1–1 -1(c)Friendly8712 October 2023Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong4–0 0(c)2026 FIFA World Cup qualification8821 November 2023Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong2–2 -2(c)2026 FIFA World Cup qualification8914 January 2024Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–3 –3(c)2023 AFC Asian Cup9019 January 2024Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar0–1 –1(c)2023 AFC Asian CupTotal-12238
Player profile Yapp has excellent speed and reflexes, making him an ideal one-on-one goalkeeper. He has a great ability of rushing out and closing down the attacker, and can react quickly to shots. He is also an excellent penalty kick saver, having saved penalties on multiple big occasions. However, Yapp is susceptible to crosses and corner kicks due to his lack of height.
References
External links * *  Yapp Hung Fai at HKFA*