Yapp Hung-fai has said he still hopes to play abroad, 12 years after the dispiriting collapse of a transfer to mainland China.
“In Hong Kong, we don’t have the resources and quality of China, Japan, or Korea,” Eastern No 1 Yapp said. “The level of training and matches is higher abroad, so I’d have improved, and had the feeling of being a professional goalkeeper. I still want to [go overseas], but as I get older, there’s less chance.”
It is testament to Yapp’s ability that Mateja Kezman, the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker, said in 2011 that his then 21-year-old South China teammate could “have a future in Europe”.
“At that moment, I was good enough, but I’m not now … the gap between Europe and Asia is too big,” said Yapp, who believes his 5ft 10in (1.78 metres) height contributed to a lack of offers.
The former England goalkeeper, David James, told the Post that Yapp’s durability was illustrative of his “athleticism and motivation”.
“You have to be so fit and dedicated to achieve that longevity, because the level of athlete has changed,” James added.
Also a goalkeeper coach for Eastern’s youth teams, and Citizen Women, Yapp is confident of playing for another two years, at least, but he will stop “if my body says it’s time”.
“I’m getting coaching experience, so I can go straight into it when I retire,” he added.
https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3315053/hong-kong-keeper-yapp-wants-play-abroad-decade-after-mainland-china-move-was-blocked