12 Jan 2004(Mon)

You cannot fault Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi for effort and determination.

Next week he will leave Japan and return to Europe, with the goal of becoming first-choice keeper at his Danish club, FC Nordsjaelland.

Yoshi knows that unless he is playing regularly for his club, he cannot expect to play a part in Japan's qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

So he will be working as hard as ever toward this target.

There's no doubt Yoshi has had his problems since leaving Yokohama F Marinos for Portsmouth in England in October 2001.

But he remains optimistic, upbeat, and a thoroughly pleasant young man.

It was nice to catch up with him after Masami Ihara's testimonial match in Tokyo on Jan. 4.

His English now is virtually fluent, which is just as well as he is finding Danish very hard to pick up.

"I am learning to speak and to write, but the listening is very difficult," he said (in English, not Danish!).

"Fortunately, everyone in Denmark speaks perfect English, and they are very kind. It's just so cold!"

So cold, in fact, that the Danish league runs from spring to early winter, closing down from December to March.

"When I get back to Denmark we have two months to prepare for the new season," he said.

"There will be many training matches and friendlies, so I hope I can be in the team when the season starts."

Yoshi explained that he played only four times for the first team after joining Nordsjaelland from Portsmouth in September 2003.

Then an ankle injury ruled him out for over a month, during which he missed seven or eight games.

"The doctor said it was only five percent necessary to have an operation, and 95 percent not necessary. I went with the 95 percent, and now the ankle is fine after a rest."

This lack of first-team football has been evident on the two occasions Zico has picked him for Japan, as he made a blunder against Uruguay and Romania.

Yoshi could surely return to the comfort zone of the J.League, but he wants to stick it out in Europe and be a success.

He is only 28, which is young for a keeper, and still has the desire to improve.

For such a likeable person, it is impossible not to wish him all the very best in his quest.

ends