19 May 2003(Mon)

It is clear that being relegated to J2 is not the end of the world.

Even though the fixture list for the J2 season does not include games against the glamour teams such as Kashima Antlers and Jubilo Iwata, a spell in the second division can rejuvenate a club.

Just look at Kyoto Purple Sanga, who won the Emperor's Cup last season.

And Cerezo Osaka, who came up from J2 last season behind Oita Trinita and can now beat any team in J1.

Now it is the turn of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

After 12 rounds of matches, Sanfrecce lead J2 with 31 points, nine clear of second-placed Albirex Niigata.

I went to watch Sanfrecce play Kawasaki Frontale at Todoroki Stadium on Wednesday night, but I am afraid I brought them bad luck as they lost 1-0. This was their first defeat of the season after 10 wins and one draw.

Their manager is the bright and respected Takeshi Ono, who was Takeshi Okada's assistant coach at the France World Cup and has all the right qualifications through the JFA coaching programme.

After the defeat he was not complaining, saying Frontale deserved to win. The most important thing, he stressed, was how Sanfrecce reacted to the defeat in their next match. They must rebound with a win, he said, and insisted the confidence would not be damaged.

Running the club now, as general manager, is Toyoharu Takata, who is also a director of the JFA.

Takata played a big part in the success of the wonderful J.Village training complex in Fukushima, and is now making a success of Sanfrecce again.

"We have made a good start to the season, but there is still a long way to go," said Takata.

"Our first target is to get out of J2 this season, and in four years we want to be challenging at the top of J1."

Sanfrecce's cause has been helped, not hindered, by the SARS virus, which has put back the final round of Olympic qualifying games until next March.

This means players such as the Morisaki twins and Yuichi Komano will be available throughout the season.

Veteran Brazilian midfielder Cesar Sampaio, 35, says there is a good balance of young and experienced players.

Sampaio was an excellent signing by Sanfrecce, as the 1998 World Cup player can guide the team in attack and defense.

Even though clubs would prefer to stay in J1, a drop into J2 gives them a chance to regroup, win matches, build confidence and team spirit and attract more fans and attention from the local media.

In short, it can mean a new beginning, not the end.

ends