20 Feb 2003(Thu)

Koji Nakata has achieved a lot on the football field during his short career.

Nakata is still only 23, but has already represented Japan in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 World Cup.

At club level he has won a succession of domestic titles with Kashima Antlers, whom he joined from Teikyo High School.

In the ongoing A3 Mazda Champions Cup, Nakata's career moved another step forward when Antlers' Brazilian manager, Toninho Cerezo, appointed him captain for his team's opening game against Dalian Shide last Sunday.

After the match, which Antlers won 3-1 in impressive style, Toninho said he had seen Nakata grow from a child to a man since taking over at the club in 2000.

The captaincy, explained Toninho, was to give Nakata more confidence and responsibility, and to prove the manager's trust in him.

Nakata's position in the team, as a defensive midfielder, makes him an ideal choice to be captain. He can see all aspects of play, in defense, midfield and attack, and is at the center of the tactical strategy.

Toninho has praised Nakata's "wide vision and deep insight" into the game, but felt he still had to grow into the role of captain.

The reason?

He is too shy, said Toninho, when I spoke to him Monday after a training session at Nishigaoka Stadium.

"A captain has to talk a lot and be more forceful with his teammates."

Toninho said Nakata would continue as captain in the Mazda tournament, which finishes Saturday, and there was a big chance he would be appointed team skipper for the league season.

Yasuto Honda was captain last season, and his deputy was another veteran Yutaka Akita. With Honda injured, Toninho bypassed Akita and handed Nakata the captain's armband as he looked to the future.

Nakata had an outstanding game, and has developed into one of Japan's most complete players.

He can tackle, pass, score goals, and reads the game well. He learned a lot under Philippe Troussier, who played him on the left side of his three-man defense, and now has vast experience at international level.

Whether Nakata continues as captain for the season remains to be seen.

Toninho will be watching him closely, and encouraging him to be more authoritative and more demanding of his teammates.

But it was a good start last Sunday by Captain Koji.

Another player who is blossoming early is Takeshi Aoki, who played alongside Nakata in Kashima's midfield engine room.

I think Aoki could be a magnificent player. He is tall, strong, comfortable on the ball and with a mature vision of the field. He strides forward effortlessly when in possession, and strokes a pass like an artist with a paint brush on the canvas.

Nakata and Aoki could be a dynamic midfield pairing in what is promising to be an exciting season for Kashima.

ends