Lam Ka Wai
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lam Ka Wai | ||
| Date of birth | 5 June 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Hong Kong | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2008 | Rangers | 51 | (4) |
| 2002–2003 | → Double Flower (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | → Kitchee (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2008–2018 | Kitchee | 133 | (21) |
| 2018–2020 | Eastern | 22 | (4) |
| 2020 | R&F | 1 | (0) |
| 2020–2024 | Rangers | 56 | (2) |
| 2024– | Sun Source | 11 | (5) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Hong Kong U-23 | |||
| 2005–2018 | Hong Kong | 51 | (9) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024– | Rangers (assistant coach) | ||
| 2024– | Sun Source (player-manager) | ||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2018 | |||
Lam Ka Wai (Chinese: 林嘉緯; Jyutping: lam4 gaa1 wai5; born 5 June 1985) is a Hong Kong former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and a current football coach. He is currently the assistant coach of Hong Kong Premier League club Rangers.
Lam is an AFC B License holder.[1]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Lam lived away from his parents and spent his childhood years playing football. During his school life, he showed his talent in soccer. He could complete with high school teammates while aged 15. He was studying in Concordia Lutheran School and he ceased his studies to pursue a footballing career by Secondary 3.[2]
Lam started his football career at Yee Hope's youth academy. In 2002 he joined Rangers but was loaned to Double Flower on a monthly salary of just HKD$1,500, to train under coach Chiu Chung Man.[3] In 2003, Lam was loaned further to Kitchee when he was just 17, along with future Hong Kong teammate Chan Siu Ki.[2]
In 2004, Lam returned to Rangers and began to impress. He was selected for the Hong Kong national team in 2005 and scored on his debut. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe ankle ligament injury in 2005 and was sidelined for most of the league season.[2]
Kitchee
[edit]Lam joined Kitchee in 2008 and, along with fullback Lo Kwan Yee, has been the mainstay of the club for most of the 2010s. Lam's potential as a central playmaker was recognized by head coach Josep Gombau, who selected him to play the pivotal No. 10 role for Kitchee.
In June 2010, Kitchee reported to the Hong Kong Football Association that Fourway Rangers made an illegal approach to his services.[4]
2010–11 season
[edit]In the 2010–11 Hong Kong First Division League season, Lam led all local players with 9 goals on the season, including 2 goals against eventual runners-up South China in a crucial 4-3 away win,[5] and was a key member of the team which won the First Division title by one point. This was the first title for Kitchee in 47 years, gaining the club the rights to play in the 2011 Barclays Asia Trophy and 2012 AFC Cup. For his efforts, Lam was voted into the Hong Kong Top Footballer Awards Best XI of the 2010-11 season.
After the season ended, Lam played in a local soccer game without Kitchee's consent and fractured his fibula, rendering him unavailable in both the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers (representing Hong Kong) and the 2011 Premier League Asia Trophy. Lam's vice-captaincy at Kitchee was subsequently suspended.[6]
2011–12 season
[edit]On 19 April 2012, Lam received the Monthly MVP award for the month of March from the Hong Kong Sports Press Association, after helping the club win the 2011–12 Hong Kong League Cup.[7] Lam proceeded to win the domestic treble with Kitchee in the 2011-12 season.
2012–13 season
[edit]Lam's impact was limited by various injuries throughout Kitchee's 2012-13 campaign, recording only 10 appearances and 1 goal in the league. Despite the second place finish, Kitchee retained their rights to play in the 2014 AFC Cup through winning the 2012–13 Hong Kong season play-off.
2013–14 season
[edit]On 29 July 2013, in an exhibition match against English Premier League giants Manchester United at the Hong Kong Stadium, Lam scored by curling the ball into the top corner from outside the box on 53 minutes after dribbling past star midfielder Michael Carrick, giving reserve United keeper Ben Amos no chance. He also recorded an assist in a 2–5 defeat.[8]
In the league season, Lam played a central role and contributed to Kitchee's Invincible season en route to their third title in four seasons. Lam also took part in Kitchee's monumental run to the semi-finals of the 2014 AFC Cup, scoring a goal against Arema Cronus in the Round of 16.
2016–17 season
[edit]On 25 January 2017, Lam scored a last-minute winner versus Hà Nội to lift Kitchee to victory in their 2017 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off match.[9]
2017–18 season
[edit]On 26 May 2018, Lam made his final appearance for Kitchee as the club won the 2017–18 Hong Kong FA Cup.[10]
Eastern
[edit]After over a decade at Kitchee, Lam signed with fellow Hong Kong Premier League club Eastern on 1 July 2018.[11]
R&F
[edit]On 13 January 2020, Lam terminated his contract with Eastern and signed with rivals R&F.[12] The contract is for a half year, with a clause for an automatic extension after seven league appearances.[13]
However, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong in 2020, the 2019–20 season was suspended before he could trigger an extension. Thus, on 6 June 2020, Lam revealed that R&F had declined to renew his contract at the club.[14]
Rangers
[edit]On 10 September 2020, Rangers' Director of Football Philip Lee declared that Lam would return to the club as a player and a youth team coach.[15] He added that Lam would sign a one-year contract and be given the captain's armband.[16]
On 6 April 2024, Lam announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2023–24 season.[17]
International career
[edit]
On 5 March 2005, Lam made his international debut for Hong Kong in the Preliminary Competition of 2005 East Asian Football Championship against Mongolia.
On 1 June 2012, Lam scored the only goal in Hong Kong's friendly win against Singapore at the Hong Kong Stadium.[18]
Honours
[edit]Club
[edit]- Kitchee
- Hong Kong Premier League: 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18
- Hong Kong First Division: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14
- Hong Kong Senior Shield: 2016–17
- Hong Kong FA Cup: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18
- Hong Kong Sapling Cup: 2017–18
- Hong Kong League Cup: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
- Rangers
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]As of 6 December 2006
| Club | Season | League | League Cup | Senior Shield | FA Cup | AFC Cup | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Double Flower (loan) | 2002–03 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 0 | ? | 0 | — | — | ? | ? |
| Total | 0 | 0 | — | — | |||||||||
| Kitchee (loan) | 2003–04 | ? | 3 | ? | 1 | ? | 1 | ? | 0 | — | — | ? | 5 |
| Total | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | ||||||
| Rangers | 2004–05 | ? | 2 | ? | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | ? | 3 |
| 2005–06 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | ? | 4 | |||
| Career Total | 1 | 0 | — | — | |||||||||
International
[edit]- As of 27 March 2018
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 2005 | 4 | 2 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 51 | 9 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Fai Fai. "港隊中場林嘉緯 落實重投母會標準流浪". 香港本地足球專區. Retrieved 10 September 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ a b c (in Chinese)林嘉緯回到快樂的17歲 Ming Pao. (by Sina.com.hk) 21 February 2009.
- ^ (in Chinese)林嘉緯港隊10號仔 Oriental Daily. 10 June 2011.
- ^ (in Chinese)埠際賽港隊唔選少林兵 Oriental Daily. 8 June 2010.
- ^ (in Chinese)隊長林嘉緯建奇功 傑志險勝南華重登一哥 Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Wen Wei Po. 12 December 2010.
- ^ (in Chinese)足球 盧均宜林嘉緯冇得做隊長 Apple Daily. 3 August 2011.
- ^ (in Chinese)傑志贏公民重登榜首 Apple Daily (HK). 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Friendly on fire". The Standard. 30 July 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "林嘉緯加時絕殺河內 傑志亞冠外過頭關". Apple Daily. Retrieved 26 January 2017. (in Chinese)
- ^ 【足總盃】傑志一代功臣告退 盧均宜林嘉緯證實離隊 Sportsroad 26 May 2018
- ^ Chan, Ngan Ping. "東方龍獅公佈球員名單 林嘉緯 艾華頓來投". Apple Daily. Retrieved 1 July 2018. (in Chinese)
- ^ Yuen, Chi Ho. "林嘉緯失正選轉投富力 飛馬重簽艾華救亡". HK01. Retrieved 13 January 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ "與盧均宜重逢 林嘉緯轉投富力". Sportsroad.hk. Retrieved 13 January 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ "祝林嘉緯快啲搵到新球會". on.cc. Retrieved 6 June 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ Fai Fai. "港隊中場林嘉緯 落實重投母會標準流浪". 香港本地足球專區. Retrieved 10 September 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ "林嘉緯或返流浪 勢任隊長兼披10號戰下季港超". Ming Pao. Retrieved 10 September 2020. (in Chinese)
- ^ 港超聯 林嘉緯宣布季後退役：係時候退落嚟 on.cc 6 April 2024
- ^ (in Chinese)林嘉緯一錘定音 摩帥領港足2連勝 Wen Wei Po 2012年6月2日.
External links
[edit]- Lam Ka Wai at Soccerway
- Lam Ka Wai at HKFA
- Lam Ka Wai on Instagram
- Lam Ka Wai on Facebook
- 1985 births
- Living people
- Hong Kong men's footballers
- Hong Kong men's youth international footballers
- Hong Kong men's international footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Hong Kong First Division League players
- Hong Kong Premier League players
- Hong Kong Rangers FC players
- Double Flower FA players
- Kitchee SC players
- Eastern Sports Club footballers
- R&F (Hong Kong) players
- 21st-century Hong Kong sportsmen
- Footballers at the 2006 Asian Games
- Footballers at the 2018 Asian Games
- Asian Games competitors for Hong Kong