Yapp Hung Fai

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 representation team, with 112 caps in total.

Club career Born in a Hakka family, Yapp finished his studies at Form 5 level. He was admitted 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 started his professional career at Workable in 2007 when he was only 17 under coaches Lee Kin Wo and Chan Hiu Ming. His salary was only HK$5,000 per month. During his time at the club, he helped the team to an unexpected 1–0 win against South China in the 2007–08 Hong Kong League Cup.

Pegasus Yapp joined Pegasus in 2009.

South China In 2010, Yapp moved to South China. On 29 September 2010, during Tottenham Hotspur's chief scout Ian Broomfield's visit to South China, he praised Yapp for his enormous potential. "He [Yapp] 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 has what it takes to play in European football leagues.

During the summer of 2013, Yapp agreed to a 4.5-year contract with Guizhou Renhe. However, his registration was denied by the Chinese Football Association because 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 their first Hong Kong Premier League trophy.

On 28 September 2020, Yapp also helped Eastern win the 2019–20 Hong Kong FA Cup. It is the fifth FA cup trophy for Eastern.

On 20 November 2024, Yapp played his 200th match for Eastern.

In the 2024–25 season, Yapp helped Eastern win the FA Cup and Senior Shield trophies.

International career 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 played against 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.

On 8 December 2024, Yapp got his 100th cap for the national team after playing against Mongolia in a 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Round match.

On 9 October 2025, Yapp was seriously injured during an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. It was discovered that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours 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, 2023–24, 2024–25 Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2019–20, 2024–25 Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2020–21

Hong Kong U23 East Asian Games: 2009: Gold Medal

Individual Hong Kong Best Youth Player: 2010, 2013 Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Year: 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2020–21, 2021–22 Hong Kong Footballer of the Year: 2016