5 Oct 2003(Sun)

It's Brazil Day at FC Tokyo's home game against Kashima Antlers on Saturday, but all eyes will be on a young Japanese player about to win his first cap for the national team.

After the exotic samba dancers have greeted fans and staged a mini-Rio Carnival parade at Ajinomoto Stadium, FC Tokyo right back Akira Kaji will be trying to show why Zico has picked him against Tunisia in Tunis on Oct. 8.

The selection of the Hyogo-born 23-year-old defender was a surprise to many, especially as he lost his place in the FC Tokyo lineup to Waseda University student Yuhei Tokunaga earlier this season. But the club's managing director, Yutaka Murabayashi, never had any doubts about Kaji's ability.

"Before the season started, in January and February, I was always saying that Kaji would be a candidate for the national team this year," said Murabayashi.

"So it's not a big surprise for me. I talked with him on Tuesday after his selection, but he's always cool so it's difficult to know how he was feeling.

"But his friends in the team say he is really excited about it." Murabayashi added that Kaji showed great resolve to fight his way back into the team after Olympic squad member Tokunaga had replaced him.

"Tokunaga was playing well so Kaji found himself on the bench.

"But he didn't complain or anything. He made a big effort in training and had a positive attitude off the pitch. Everyone at the club was very impressed with him during this time, and I'm sure the experience has made him a stronger character," said Murabayashi.

The club holds a Brazil Day once a season at home, and Murabayashi is expecting a crowd of around 35,000 for the visit of championship-chasing Kashima.

Fans will be able to drink Brazilian beer and eat Brazilian food, and the ambassdor of Brazil will be a special guest.

FC Tokyo will also present flowers to the Brazilian players of both teams, as well as to Antlers manager Toninho Cerezo, before the kickoff.

But there the generosity ends.

"We can still win the second stage," said Murabayashi.

"We are only five points off the top with seven games to go, so the first thing is to win our four home games, starting against Kashima.

"This will be our fifth Brazil Day and we've won on the previous four occasions."

ends