2 Feb 2004(Mon)

Round about this time every year, the J.League clubs have a special day set aside for the media.

These are very enjoyable occasions, as the atmosphere is always relaxed, friendly and positive.

Clubs give the opportunity for the media to talk to their new players, talk to the manager and to the leading executives about the hopes for the new season.

On Wednesday I made the short Joban Line journey from Ueno to Kashiwa for the Reysol media afternoon, and this was an extremely beneficial experience.

It took place at Hitachi Stadium, one of my favourite grounds in Japan as it reminds me so much of an English stadium in the lower divisions.

There is no running track, so the fans are close to the pitch. The home fans are at one end, and the away fans at the other, and it takes only around 8,000 to create a really good atmosphere.

On Wednesday, of course, the stadium was deserted.

It was bathed in bright winter sunshine, giving it a gleam and a sparkle as if ready to welcome the new season, a fresh start.

I sat in one of the pitch-side dug-outs for a few minutes before the press conference began, absorbing the warm rays of the sun.

I love the "atmosphere" of an empty stadium, as it easy to close your eyes and to imagine the noise of the crowd as play moves from one end to the other.

A corner kick for Reysol is accompanied by the frenzied cry of "Goal! Goal! Kashiwa Goal!", while an opposing player who comes too close to the Kashiwa Ultras, known as the Yellow Monkeys, is greeted with a barrage of insults.

It's always amusing at Hitachi Stadium watching the security people make sure the Monkeys don't burst through the safety net and jump on to the pitch, but I am sure they only behave like that because the net is there!

By the way, 2004 on the Lunar New Year calendar is the Year of the Monkey, so maybe this is a good omen for the Kashiwa faithful.

The club has invested heavily again this season, and I am particularly looking forward to seeing the young Brazilian midfielder Dudu.

Reading this month's World Soccer magazine from London, the 20-year-old from Vitoria has already been compared to the legendary, languid Socrates, a former teammate of Zico's.

Even though Dudu will not arrive in Kashiwa for another week or so, he was still a major talking point of the Reysol media day.

Maybe 2004 will also be the Year of the Dudu.

ends