19 Dec 2002(Thu)

When Naohiro Takahara first joined Masashi Nakayama in the Jubilo Iwata forward line, it was a case of "The Sorcerer and the Apprentice."

This was the title of an old folk story, and was about a wizard who taught all his magic tricks to a young and enthusiastic student.

Watching Nakayama and Takahara always reminded me of this story.

Nakayama was the wise old wizard who knew everything.

Takahara was the eager beginner, working alongside him and hoping that the magic would rub off on to him.

So, when the 23-year-old Takahara was named J.League MVP for the 2002 season,the education was over.

Nakayama had done his job, and so too had Takahara in learning so well from the master.

Takahara could not have had a better teacher than the player they call "Gon."

On the pitch, Gon is a goal machine. He is a penalty box predator who knows by instinct exactly where to be and when to be there. He also can sense where the goal is, and has a remarkable habit of hitting the target, again by nature.

Even with these gifts, though, a player must still work hard for the team, and Gon can never be accused of being a selfish player, despite his fantastic goals record.

Off the pitch, Nakayama's attitude is exemplary. He loves his football, and this also shines through in Takahara. Both players train hard and are constantly trying to improve their own individual performances.

Takahara fully deserved his award as MVP, not simply for scoring 26 goals in 27 games but also for leading the team from the front alongside the 1998 MVP Nakayama.

Taka now seems set to move to Germany to join Hamburger SV (the SV stands for Sport Verein, meaning Hamburg Sports Club), where he will have to start learning all over again.

He will have to adapt to the physically powerful German game, and deal with clever and mobile defenders who will not be afraid to chop him down if he looks capable of escaping their tight and rugged marking.

It will be a great experience for Taka to play in one of Europe's four major leagues--Germany is ranked alongside Italy, Spain and England--and he is now ready to make his mark.

Wherever he plays in his career, Taka knows he will never have a better professor than the soccer sorcerer Nakayama.

The student has completed his apprenticeship.

ends