Yapp Hung Fai
Yapp Hung Fai (Chinese: 葉鴻輝; Jyutping: jip6 hung4 fai1, Cantonese pronunciation: [jìːp̚.hȍŋ.fɐ́i]; 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 76 caps in total.
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yapp Hung Fai | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 March 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hong Kong | ||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||
Current team | Eastern | ||||||||||||
| Number | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Hong Kong 09 | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Workable | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Eastern | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Pegasus | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | South China | 47 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2014– | Eastern | 96 | (0) | ||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2014 | Hong Kong U-23 | 17 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2010– | Hong Kong | 76 | (0) | ||||||||||
Honours
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 October 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 December 2019 | |||||||||||||
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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.[1]
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.[2] His salary was only HK$5,000.[3] 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.[4]
Eastern
After Workable FC was relegated at the end of the 2007–08 season, Yapp followed Lee Kin Wo and Chan Hiu Ming to Eastern. But the club did not achieve good results and decided to return to the Hong Kong Third Division League at the end of the season.
Pegasus
Yapp Hung Fai moved to Pegasus in 2009.[5] 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.[6]
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."[7]
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.[8]
During the summer of 2013, Yapp had agreed to a 4.5 year contract with Guizhou Renhe.[9] 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.
Second spell with Eastern
In June 2014, Yapp returned to Eastern after his contract with South China expired.
International career
Hong Kong U-23
On 12 December 2009, Hong Kong played in the football final of the 2009 East Asian Games. The game ended 1:1 after extra time. In the penalty shoot-out, Yapp Hung Fai saved from Shohei Otsuka before Japanese defender Daisuke Suzuki sent his effort wide. Hong Kong eventually won the penalty shoot out 4:2 and took the gold medal.[10] Yapp Hung Fai's performance was widely applauded in the territory and he was nicknamed 英雄輝 (Hero Fai) by the public.
Yapp Hung Fai took part in the 2010 Asian Games for Hong Kong U23. Hong Kong advanced to the knock-out stage for the first time in 52 years after wins over Uzbekistan and Bangladesh and a draw with United Arab Emirates. In the knock-out stage Hong Kong was defeated by Oman 0:3 with Yapp Hung Fai saving a penalty to prevent another goal.[11]
In the 2012 London Olympics Asian qualification tie against Uzbekistan, Yapp Hung Fai saved a penalty in the away game to prevent Hong Kong U23 losing 0:2.[12] In the end, Hong Kong lost the tie 0:3 on aggregate.
On 10 August 2011, Hong Kong Football Association announced its squad for the 2013 East Asian Games football tournament. Only Yapp Hung Fai remains from the original gold medal winning 2009 squad.[13]
Hong Kong
On 11 February 2010, at the age of 19, Yapp made his senior debut 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 3 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.[14]
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 be the most capped player of the team.
Honours
Club
- South China
- Hong Kong First Division: 2012–13
- Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2013–14
- Hong Kong FA Cup: 2010–11
- Hong Kong League Cup: 2010–11
- Pegasus
- Hong Kong FA Cup: 2009–10
- Eastern
International
- Hong Kong
- Long Teng Cup (2): 2010, 2011
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup (2): 2012, 2013
- Hong Kong U-23
- East Asian Games (1): 2009: Gold
Individual
- East Asian Games Best Goalkeeper (1): 2009
- Hong Kong Best Youth Player (2): 2010, 2013
- Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Year (8) : 2010–17
- Hong Kong Footballer of the Year: 2016
Career statistics
Club
As of 31 May 2013 (CLEAN SHEETS NOT UPDATED)
| Club | Season | League | Cup[15] | Asia | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | G.C. | C.S. | Apps | G.C. | C.S. | Apps | G.C. | C.S. | Apps | G.C. | C.S. | ||
| Workable | 2007–08 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – | 19 | 25 | 7 |
| Workable Total | 13 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 25 | 7 | |
| Eastern | 2008–09 | 21 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 31 | 40 | 13 |
| Eastern Total | 21 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 31 | 40 | 13 | |
| Pegasus | 2009–10 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | 22 | 25 | 6 |
| TSW Pegasus Total | 17 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 25 | 6 | |
| South China | 2010–11 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 23 | 35 | 4 |
| 2011–12 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 1 | – | – | – | 24 | 30 | 9 | |
| 2012–13 | 17 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 7 | – | – | – | – | 26 | 25 | 2 | |
| South China Total | 44 | 47 | 12 | 23 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 78 | 95 | 15 | |
| Career Total | 65 | 106 | 34 | 38 | 47 | 5 | 12 | 27 | 2 | 145 | 180 | 41 | |
Apps – Appearances; G.C. – Goals conceded; C.S. – Clean sheets.
Hong Kong
- As of 18 December 2019
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong 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 | |
| Total | 76 | 0 | |
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Hong Kong U-23
- As of 25 September 2014
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
- traditional Chinese 棄升中六飛撲青春夢 The-Sun (Hong Kong). 5 November 2007
- traditional Chinese 生得逢時 避過外援氾濫潮 時勢造英「鴻」 Apple Daily. 28 January 2010
- (in Chinese)天之驕子中鋒 x運滯落難門將 奪金功臣 榮辱路大不同 Apple Daily. 13 December 2009.
- (in Chinese) 聯賽盃足球賽（ A組） 華家堡爆大冷挫南華 Apple Daily. 20 January 2008
- traditional Chinese 生得逢時 避過外援氾濫潮 時勢造英「鴻」 Apple Daily. 28 January 2010
- traditional Chinese 助飛馬捧盃 葉鴻輝投南華 Ming Pao. 31 May 2010
- (in Chinese) 熱刺球探觀操 讚葉鴻輝反應快 30 September 2010.
- 基士文薦葉鴻輝闖歐 Singtao Daily (Vancouver, Canadian version). 15 April 2011.
- http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1286513/hong-kong-international-yapp-hung-fai-denied-chance-play-csl-club
- Hong Kong takes football gold at East Asian Games. By MICHAEL CHURCH. Associated Press. 12 December 2009 10:07 PM
- traditional Chinese 16強力戰不敵阿曼 港足明天會更好 Oriental Daily. 16 November 2010
- (in Chinese)東尼##本地體壇##營造主場威力 Metro Daily Hong Kong. Retrieved 11 August 2011
- traditional Chinese 東亞運隊 30將僅葉鴻輝舊人 Apple Daily. 10 August 2011
- (in Chinese)葉鴻輝3救12碼 氣走廣東 港隊重奪錦標 Oriental Daily. 2 January 2012.
- Including Hong Kong FA Cup, Hong Kong League Cup and Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield.
- Hong Kong 4–0 Maldives, Asian Football Confederation, 23 February 2011
- Maldives 0–3 Hong Kong, Asian Football Confederation, 9 March 2011
External links
- Yapp Hung Fai at Soccerway
- Yapp Hung Fai at HKFA
- Yapp Hung Fai on Instagram
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Chan Wai Ho |
Hong Kong national under-23 football team captain 2011 |
Succeeded by Tam Lok Hin |
| Preceded by Chan Wai Ho |
Hong Kong national football team captain 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by Huang Yang |