| Introducing Omiya Ardija's Defenders |
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After taking a look at Omiya Ardija's goalkeepers, it's time to introduce the club's defenders, starting with an ever-present from last season, Seiichiro Okuno. A 29-year-old central defender, Okuno has been a rock at the heart of Omiya's defence for six years and more - indeed, he signed for Ardija during 1998, the last the club played in the old JFL. As a youngster, he had earlier spent six years learning his trade with Yokohama Flugels. Number 2 in the squad, Okuno has played 246 J-League games and scored seven goals.
Okuno's partner in central defence for the last four years has been Toninho, a big 27-year-old from Brazil. Previously with Mirasol, Corinthians Paulista and Atletico Juventus in his home country, Toni moved to Omiya for the 2001 season and has been with the club ever since. His J-League stats are played 160, scored 11; his squad no. is 4.
The third reason for Omiya's settled defensive performances in 2004 is left-back Daisuke Tomita, who missed only one game throughout what was his first season in Saitama. Transferred from fellow J2 side Mito Hollyhock, 27-year-old Tomita spent four years as a regular starting member of their side, having moved from his university team prior to the 2000 season. In only five years as a pro, his J-League stats read played 189, scored 13. His squad no. will be 5.
Another graduate of the Kokushikan University side, it seems possible that Takuro Nishimura will start the season as first-choice right back for Omiya. After finishing university, he spent three-and-a-half years with Urawa Reds without making a breakthrough into the first team, before moving to Omiya during 2004. The 27-year-old will take squad no. 18, and he's played fifteen J-League games without scoring a goal.
He with the smart hairstyle, Yasunari Hiraoka will turn 33 just after the start of the season. A journeyman defender, he started his career with Otsuka Pharmaceuticals / Tokushima Vortis in the JFL before moving into the professional game proper with Kyoto Purple Sanga in 1997. Oita was his next destination for two years in J2 and then Hiraoka spent four years as a squad player at Nagoya Grampus 8. 2005 will be his second season with Omiya, where his squad no, is 13. He's scored three times in 118 J-League games.
Younger members of the squad hoping to make their J-League debuts are Terukazu Tanaka [top], squad no. 25, a 19-year-old who joined Omiya from high school; cheeky-faced young scamp Masateru Tsujita [middle], 20 years old and squad no. 28; and Akira Ishigame [bottom], also 20, squad no. 29.
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【2005/02/08 07:58】
2005 Player Profiles
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