Jean's Brazilian master class
No wonder FC Tokyo are producing so many good, young defenders.
All they have to do is watch and copy the Brazilian master alongside them, Jean Carlo Witte.
Coach Hara can teach them everything he knows on the training field, but when it comes down to the heat of battle, Jean is both a warrior and a leader.
Jean joined the club in February 2002, and I have never seen him have a bad game.
But because he is a robust defender rather than a creative midfielder or goal-scoring forward, he does not get the attention he deserves.
There is absolutely no doubt, though, that he is one of the best and most consistent overseas players in Japan.
On Saturday I made the trek out to Kashiwanoha Stadium, to watch the Reysol-Tokyo Nabisco Cup game.
Tokyo did not have Doi in goal or Kaji at right-back, or on the bench, because of national team commitments, but neither was missed against a weak Reysol attack without Tamada for the same reasons.
Tokyo still had Tokunaga at right-back, and Moniwa alongside Jean in the heart of the defense, with Kanazawa out on the left to give the team balance. I always remembered him as a midfield player for Jubilo, but he has adapted well to his defensive duties at Tokyo.
Maybe this is the Jean influence as well.
For me, the first job of a defender is to defend, not to attack (Alex Santos comes to mind here).
And, boy, can Jean defend!
He's strong in the air, scoring Tokyo's opener with a crisp, well-directed header to a Baba free kick, fearless in the tackle and always chooses the right option when in possession.
Sometimes he has the time and the space to play the ball out of defense, and on others a simple clearance is all that is required.
It might not look pretty, but he's a no-risk, no-frills kind of player.
Too often I see Japanese players attempt a back-heel pass or a nonchalant flick in a dangerous area with the score at 0-0, but Jean's play is about discipline and about playing the percentages.
He is not the quickest central defender, but he reads the game well and covers his ground. I noticed a couple of times on Saturday that a player might be able to get past him once, but not twice.
On Saturday, in the absence of Doi, Jean was captain...as well as player, coach, goal-scorer and professor!
ends
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