Bando steps up from Japan's "Class of '99"
It is always interesting--and sometimes surprising--to look back through Japan's squad for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999.
Japan, of course, reached the final, losing to Spain, and several players went on to play for the full national team.
They have included Akira Kaji, Koji Nakata, Yasuhito Endo, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Masashi Motoyama, Naohiro Takahara and Yuichiro Nagai.
(Shinji Ono had already played for the national team, including a brief appearance against Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup in France).
Another member of Philippe Troussier's under-20 squad in Nigeria was Ryuji Bando, who is having a fine season for Vissel Kobe.
Now 25, Bando has netted 12 goals in 19 league appearances this season, second only to Gamba's Masashi Oguro (14) of the Japanese players among the leading scorers.
His latest goal came on Thursday, a smart glancing header in the 2-2 draw with Yokohama F Marinos at Tokyo's National Stadium.
He could have had a second goal, too, but saw his penalty saved by Tatsuya Enomoto, diving to his left.
Still, Vissel looked happy enough with a point, even though Marinos were down to nine men at the end following the second-half red cards for Kurihara and Kubo.
After the game, Vissel manager Ivan Hasek was full of praise for Bando.
"He was a substitute at the start of the season, and now he is one of the best players in Japan," said Hasek.
"He has the winning spirit, and his confidence to go for the goal is growing with every game and every day in training."
Asked if he thought Bando was good enough to be called up by Zico, Hasek replied diplomatically.
"I am not the national coach. Of course I want him to stay with Vissel!" he said.
But Hasek added that Bando was one of the best finishers in Japan, and could go further in his career if he kept his feet on the ground.
"Now, there are too many people telling him he is playing very well. He must not change his mentality, because this is a problem for players in Japan when they receive too much praise. He must stay simple."
If the goals keep coming, maybe Bando will be the next member of Japan's Class of '99 to move into the senior squad.
ends
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