8 Mar 2004(Mon)

Was it Japan's Olympic team playing in Abu Dhabi, or was it just Sota Hirayama?

I must admit I have been a bit confused this week, as I have watched Japan's three games against Bahrain, Lebanon and the UAE.

On the first night, I quickly noticed that the TV camera was always pointed at Hirayama when there was no action to follow. For example, before kick-off or when there was a break in the game for a foul or something.

I couldn't believe how the camera lingered on Japan's 18-year-old center forward.

The game ended 0-0, of course, and the next morning I was on the train for Yokohama. I noticed a man reading a sports newspaper with the massive headline "Hirayama, no goal."

I was beginning to feel angry.

Next to me was sitting an elderly woman, talking to her daughter or maybe daughter-in-law. The old lady was talking about Japan's 0-0 draw with Bahrain, and said "Hirayama-kun" had not scored a goal.

That's great, I thought, the older generation taking an interest in football, even if it's just Hirayama.

During the second match against Lebanon I came close to turning off my TV. The Hirayama complex was driving me crazy.

Tanaka had a brilliant game, scoring the first goal with a clever header, admittedly from Hirayama's knock-down, setting up the second for Captain Keita and then picking out Takamatsu to score the third with a crossfield pass from right to left. Ishikawa's fourth, with his left foot, was a screamer!

But again the TV people seemed more concerned with Hirayama sitting on the bench.

Last night, Friday, Hirayama again was taken off, and a fantastic second half, with goals from Takamatsu and Tanaka, earned Japan a memorable victory, and brought tears of emotion from coach Yamamoto. That was a moving moment.

There was no time on TV for a Hirayama interview. Only mere mortals were interviewed such as Tanaka, Takamatsu and Suzuki.

If Troussier was still in town, he would be furious over the Hirayama hype, and probably drop him for the Japan series of games.

No fault of Hirayama's, of course, but because the media treatment was unbalancing the atmosphere of the squad.

All this media worship of a young talent confused him in Japan, especially with Shinji Ono at the beginning of the Frenchman's reign.

Football is a team game, and Hirayama is one member of the team.

The treatment he receives is unfair on the young man himself and also on his teammates, who deserve more respect and recognition.

ends