Hong Kong’s goalkeeper threw down the gauntlet to four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi Monday, declaring he was “very confident” he could stop any penalties by the Barcelona icon at a friendly in the Chinese city.
His team’s ranking of 164th in the world notwithstanding, Yapp Hung-Fai drew laughter as he challenged the Argentinian player, who missed a first-half penalty against Brazil during a friendly in Beijing on Saturday.
It was his second penalty miss in two weeks after he also miscued one for his club last month against Levante.
“I am very confident I could save a Messi penalty because I saw him miss in Brazil,” Yapp, leaning forward and grinning, told a press conference at the Hong Kong Stadium. Messi was not present.
“I would have full confidence I could save it,” the 24-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Hong Kong, declared.
Hong Kong coach Kim Pan-gon was slightly more circumspect, saying that how to stop Messi was a question for defenders the world over – but that his side “should not fear” meeting Argentina on the pitch.
Hong Kong take on the mighty World Cup finalists Argentina on Tuesday in an exhibition game marking the Hong Kong Football Association’s centennial celebrations.
Argentina manager Gerardo Martino told reporters his side’s 2-0 loss against Brazil on Saturday would not affect their performance on Tuesday.
Neither would Hong Kong’s low world ranking, he added, vowing his team would play their best in the exhibition game.
The long journey halfway across the world to Asia had not affected Messi or the rest of the team’s ability to play, he said.
“I will confirm the starting line-up after training tonight,” he said, without revealing how long he might play Messi for.
Asked how Argentina were bouncing back from their World Cup final loss to Germany earlier in the year, Martino said the team was focused on the road to Russia in 2018.
“No one knows what will happen in the next four years,” he said.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.