6 Jan 2003(Mon)

Think back to Japan's silver medal in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999, and which players come to mind?

Of course Shinji Ono, although he missed the final against Spain due to suspension.

Then there's the Kashima Antlers trio of Masashi Motoyama, who was outstanding on the left wing, Mitsuo Ogasawara in central midfield and Koji Nakata on the left side of Philippe Troussier's back three.

And how could we forget Naohiro Takahara, who took over the captain's armband from Ono for the final.

Does anyone, though, remember Kazuki Teshima?

Along with his Kyoto Purple Sanga teammate Shigeki Tsujimoto and Nakata, Teshima was a regular member of the defense.

But while the likes of Ono and Takahara have secured moves to Europe, and Motoyama, Nakata and others have progressed to the national team, Teshima's progress has gone largely unnoticed.

All that should change now, though, after the 23-year-old captain's eye-catching display for Kyoto in the Emperor's Cup final victory over Kashima Antlers on New Year's Day.

Troussier's legacy was there for all to see, as Teshima controlled a very tight Purple Sanga back three, catching out the Antlers strikers offside time and again.

Despite the creative talent of Ogasawara and the mobile forwards Atsushi Yanagisawa and Euller, Antlers found very little space to work in and created very few chances.

According to Kyoto's German manager, Gert Engels, this was all due to his inspirational young skipper Teshima.

"He is very quick, organizes the defense well and covers well for his fellow defenders," said Engels.

"When you have Teshima in the middle, this allows the defenders to the right and left to be more aggressive, because they know Teshima will be covering for them."

I asked Engels if he thought Teshima had been a late developer, compared to his teammates in the under-20 side in Nigeria in 1999.

"No, I don't think so," the German insisted.

"I just think he's under-estimated, and does not get the attention other players get. I don't know why.

"He has been a key player for us now for two years."

Those two years have put Kyoto on the J.League map, first winning the J2 championship in 2001 and then finishing a highly creditable fifth on their return to the top flight.

The Emperor's Cup success, against an Antlers team including Ogasawara and Nakata but not the injured Motoyama, crowned an exciting return.

And also gave Teshima the attention his manager thinks he deserves.

ends