Gon is just one of a kind, says Zico
The older Gon Nakayama gets, the more you wonder when he will hang up his boots.
But it will probably not be this year, or even next, as he is still hungry for goals and still has the enthusiasm of a rookie, often more, in fact.
He is now 35, and has just played his 51st game for his country.
It was his first start for three years, since a 1-0 defeat by Korea in Seoul, and Gon was the captain.
His appointment by Zico may have come as a surprise, because Yutaka Akita seemed a more logical choice due to his position in the team, and the fact that most of the action in the Korea-Japan match was expected to be at the other end of the pitch to Nakayama.
But Gon served his role well.
He was the victim of a heavy, but fair, challenge early on by the rugged central defender Cho, when Gon was sent tumbling over the touchline and came to land just in front of the Korean bench.
The Korean fans cheered in glee.
But he picked himself, and was quite dangerous on Japan's counter-attacks.
At the start of the second half he showed his courage by getting his head to a loose ball after some casual defending by Korea, and seeing the ball bounce just wide of the far post.
A few minutes later, though, he should have scored, but snatched at his chance and blazed his shot over the bar after great work on the right flank by Narahashi.
Zico praised Gon's experience and leadership qualities, describing him as a role model for the other players.
"When other players think the job is finished, he is always willing to do some more," Zico said when he was guest speaker at the Foreign Correspondents'Club of Japan on Friday.
"This is why he is still productive and still playing at his age."
Zico said any manager would like to have a player like Nakayama in his team, and he feels sure Japan will not have seen the last of him when he does decide to finish his playing career.
"Even if he stops playing football, he will be very useful to Japanese soccer," said Zico.
Although he did not mention this, I am sure Zico wished other younger players would show even half the desire and commitment displayed by Nakayama, and the confidence on and off the pitch.
ends
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