20 Sep 2004(Mon)

Not that normal fans really care about media services, but it has to be said the J.League excels in this field.

One of the highlights of the year is always the official J.League launch, held a few days before the new league season kicks off.

The managers of all J.League clubs, both from division one and two, are present, and available to be interviewed by members of the media.

This is an excellent idea by the J.League, as it provides all media--including TV, newspapers, magazines and radio--with the opportunity to meet the new managers and renew acquaintances with the "old" ones.

The reason I am relating this information is because of the form of Masashi Oguro for Gamba Osaka.

Before the start of the 2003 season--not this season--I interviewed Gamba manager Nishino at the above-mentioned J.League news conference.

I honestly thought Gamba could win the J.League championship in 2003, and wanted the manager's comments.

We went through his likely lineup, and when we got to the forwards I suggested Yoshihara or Nakayama alongside the giant Magrao.

Yoshihara, in the Olympic qualifying days of 1999, had been described as Japan's Romario by Philippe Troussier, while the "Gamba Gon" Nakayama had scored some fine goals for Japan's Olympic team at the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, Korea.

Nishino, however, clearly favoured a player I must admit I did not know too much about.

His name was Masashi Oguro.

I have always kept an eye on him since then, as he works the left side of the forward line with industry and concentration.

Last season, Gamba did not win the championship, but Oguro bagged 10 goals.

This season, as Gamba trail Urawa Reds only on goal difference after four straight wins in the second stage, Oguro has 14 goals.

He is the highest Japanese scorer in the chart, and is second overall, behind the prolific Emerson, who already has 18 in 15 appearances.

The Osaka-born Oguro, 24, has progressed through the Gamba ranks, from junior youth to youth and then the first team, making his J.League debut in March 1999.

According to the J.League official website, Oguro now has 26 career goals in 73 appearances, which is better than one goal every three games--the mark by which strikers generally are ruled to be successful goalscorers or not.

His two against a Kashiwa Reysol side in disarray last Saturday were both scored from close range, but his consistent strike rate justifies the faith Nishino has had in him for a long time.

Can Gamba maintain their challenge?

For the sake of the Kansai region, I hope so.

ends