Keiji Shigetomi knows the magnitude of his task in his first senior appointment as head coach of reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata.
After three seasons of sweeping all competitive silverware, anything less than complete dominance this term might be considered a failure.
But the White Swans coach is unfazed.
"Of course, I'm excited for the upcoming season," Shigetomi told The Straits Times. "I'm a little bit nervous too, because last year we were champions for everything.
"But I'm enjoying myself and I'm having fun. I feel fantastic."
He is not one to shy away from challenges. He had no qualms speaking to ST without a translator - which was not often practised by his predecessors - even if he admits his command of English is "not so great".
FIXTURES
TODAY, 5.30PM
Geylang International v Albirex Niigata (Our Tampines Hub)
Young Lions v Balestier Khalsa (Jalan Besar Stadium)
TOMORROW, 5.30PM
Home United v Brunei DPMM (Bishan Stadium)
Hougang United v Tampines Rovers (Jalan Besar Stadium)
Geylang v Albirex live streaming: www.fas.org.sg/live1
Just one match into the new season, he is already feeling the heat.
Shigetomi's introduction to Singapore football ended in defeat as Albirex failed in their bid to lift a fourth successive Community Shield - a non-competitive trophy - after losing on penalties to Home United last Saturday.
The loss has raised questions whether the new-look squad, with only four players retained from last season, can match up to their predecessors.
One of them is attacking midfielder Hiroyoshi Kamata, who said: "We could not win the Community Shield, but we are still aiming for success in the SPL and Singapore Cup.
"It has been said that we are weaker this year than last year, but I think this target can certainly be realised."
Skipper Kyoga Nakamura, a new arrival who represented Japan at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup, added: "Now that we have played our first official game, we understand our places in the team better. We are working seriously to correct and modify what we have to."
Shigetomi, who arrived in Singapore in 2014 to lead Albirex's soccer school and stepped up to assistant coach for the SPL team last season, is keen to continue with the slick football of predecessor Kazuaki Yoshinaga's team.
The new man in the hot seat, however, realises that this is not a straightforward task.
Other than having to integrate a new-look side, Shigetomi also has to contend with new SPL rules which require Albirex to sign at least four Singaporean players, with at least two playing the entire first half.
The club missed out on several targets in the close season, but still managed to sign six local players.
"Six local players joined, but three are students, so they can join our (usual) morning training sessions only one or two times every week. So it is a bit of headache for me," said Shigetomi, with a wry smile.
The difference in culture will also take time to bridge.
The coach cited how his local players would arrive less than 30 minutes before training sessions.
In contrast, the Japanese players would report for training more than 90 minutes earlier to do proper stretching.
"But I have seen improvement and these days it is OK," said the 39-year-old.
The former head coach of the Sanfreece Hiroshima Soccer School in Japan is optimistic his side will gel and grow as the season progresses and can challenge on all fronts.
"Yes, it is so difficult to do," he said. "We need to have more quality in our passing and our defending.
"But I think over time, the players will understand each other more and we will get better.
"So our target is still to win all (the competitive) trophies."
United, Spurs, Juve and Inter ready to heat up ICC Singapore Now into its third year in Singapore, the International Champions Cup (ICC) is set for its most exciting edition yet with Serie A heavyweights Juventus and Inter Milan, and English Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur confirming their participation
United, Spurs, Juve and Inter ready to heat up ICC S'pore
EUROPE - Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/26/neymar-banned-for-three-champions-league-matches-over-ref-rant/
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant AFP April 26, 2019 AFP No Comments Lausanne (AFP) - Neymar was suspended for three Champions League matches by UEFA on Friday for insulting match officials following Paris Saint-Germain's shock exit from this season's tournament to Manchester United.
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday despite having to play the final 20 minutes
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment. Neymar will travel to Qatar to undergo a "complete assessment" six weeks into his recovery from a fractured right foot, the club said on Thursday.
Neymar heads to Qatar for medical assessment - sports.yahoo.com
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle; Pelicans stun Rockets 121-116 Share On; ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 schedule Football. Newcastle stun Manchester City 2-1.
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle - Man
Sadio Mane scored twice to hand Liverpool a 3-1 victory at Bayern Munich on Wednesday that sent them through to the Champions League quarter-finals. ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach last eight. 2
Liverpool ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach last eight - bdnews24.com
The England national football team has competed at the FIFA World Cup since 1950. The FIFA World Cup is the premier competitive international football tournament, first played in 1930, whose finals stage has been held every four years since, except 1942 and 1946, due to the Second World War.
Photo - Premier League
'It's super difficult' for Neymar to be fit to face Man Utd
Man City appeal possible Champions League ban getty, Michael Regan Manchester City have launched a legal bid to stop UEFA banning them from the 2020-2021 Champions League, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.
Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban
LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45,000 (S$80,000) by the Football Association on Thursday (Feb 21) for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's
Liverpool's Klopp fined over referee comments - sports.yahoo.com
Kane and Lloris Rescue Point for Tottenham Hotspur Against Arsenal Hugo Lloris saved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 90th-minute penalty as a below-par Tottenham Hotspur salvaged what could be a crucial 1-1 draw in a scrappy north London derby against Arsenal on Saturday.
Kane and Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal
Soccer Football - Champions League - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - May 6, 2019 FC Barcelona's Luis Suarez during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Lee
Champions League news: "Our defence looked like schoolboys
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
0 comments:
Post a Comment