10 Jul 2003(Thu)

Yokohama F Marinos fans have got a new name for the Brazilian defender Cafu.

They now call him Caf-Who?

OK, this is an English joke, a play upon words, and I hope it translates into Japanese.

The meaning is clear: that Cafu's decision not to join the F Marinos has brought one of the finest allround players in Asia back to the J.League.

I am talking, of course, about Yoo Sang Chul. To me he is the Bryan Robson of Korea, and that is high praise when compared to the former Manchester United and England legend.

Yoo can play anyway, probably even in goal, and he started his second spell at Yokohama playing right-back against Shimizu S-Pulse at Tokyo's National Stadium on Saturday night.

One minute he was sending over a wonderful deep cross from near the right wing corner flag into the S-Pulse box; the next he was taking the ball off Tuto's toe end deep in the Marinos penalty box.

Yoo was wearing the No. 2 jersey, the one the club had been saving for Cafu.

But Brazil's World Cup-winning captain pulled out of his deal, and Yokohama replaced him with Yoo.

After Saturday's game, Marinos manager Takeshi Okada was delighted with his new recruit.

"I was quite surprised because he had only been training with us for four days," said Oka-chan-san.

"I did not know he could play on the outside (of defense), but he was perfect! I am very satisfied."

So does this mean Okada has forgotten all about Cafu, hence the Caf-Who?

"I wanted Cafu for his professional leadership, but Yoo Sang Chul is a more functional player. He can play in many positions."

"He knows Japanese soccer and some of the Marinos players, so he is a very good addition to the squad."

Okada said Yoo would continue to play at right-back in place of the injured Yasuhiro Hato, but his position in the team could change depending on which players were injured.

"When everyone is available we are a not so bad team," said Okada, in an understatement.

"But if we have just one injured player, the performance of the team goes down."

In this respect, Yoo is the perfect signing, as he can play in any of the 10 outfield positions.

He is a dynamic player, possibly the best Asian player still playing in Asia, and it's a mystery why he did not find a club in Europe after Kashiwa Reysol allowed him to leave last year.

Probably the reason is that the bottom fell out of the European transfer market, and clubs did not have the money to sign a World Cup semifinalist or pay him what his ability and experience deserved.

Europe's loss is the J.League's gain.

More specifically, it's the Marinos' gain.

Who is Cafu?

ends