4 Jul 2005(Mon)

TOKYO (July 1): A few weeks ago I was sitting at home and the telephone rang.

Not the mobile phone, but the landline.

I thought it must be another fax from Urawa Reds, informing me that only 267 tickets were still available for the home game at Saitama Stadium in April 2007...even though they won't know who they are playing for another year and a half!

As I picked up the phone, expecting to hear the high-pitched tone of the fax, there was a faint voice on the other end.

"'Ello, 'ello, is this Monsieur Walker?"

Yes, you've guessed. She was French, and she worked for a football agent.

"Avez-vous le telephone number of Monsieur Alpay Ozalan, s'il vous plait?"

I said I didn't, but gave her the number of an Urawa Reds club contact, who could pass on the Frenchwoman's number to Monsieur Alpay at the earliest opportunity.

"There is a French club who wants to sign Alpay," she added.

"Yes, I think he'll be available quite soon," I replied.

"Why, is his contract finished? Is he not playing very well?" asked the Frenchwoman.

"Errr, no," I said. "He's not playing at all. He keeps getting red cards and yellow cards. In fact I think he has received more cards this season than Brad Pitt on Valentine's Day."

(Actually, I didn't say the Brad Pitt joke, as I've only just thought of it, but I will remember it for next time.)

The next day, Alpay was sent off. I was sitting at Omiya Stadium, watching them thrash Vissel Kobe, when a Japanese colleague gave me the news, via his colleague at Niigata.

Sure enough, Alpay was fired this week, six months before his contract was due to end.

For me, the writing was on the wall when he got sent off on the opening day of the season, against Kashima Antlers.

Alpay, for all his experience, had allowed Takayuki to annoy him.

That's not difficult, admittedly, as Takayuki annoys everyone, but Alpay fell for it hook, line and sinker.

He grabbed him by the chin, and Takayuki hit the deck again. In fact he fell down so often that afternoon that there is rumoured to be an imprint of Takayuki still in the turf on the edge of the penalty box. Like something you see on the X-Files.

Alpay arrived in Japan with a reputation as a hot-head. Off the pitch he is a very nice and friendly guy, but on it he goes crazy.

Call it commitment, determination...whatever you like.

But a player who goes overseas must learn to adapt to the football environment.

Japanese football can hardly be described as vicious or violent, yet Alpay just couldn't stay on the pitch long enough to hear the final whistle. Sometimes even the half-time whistle.

He has let down the club, who were prepared to give him a big break in Japanese football (and no doubt an even bigger salary), and let down himself.

It's a great pity, because he's a good player, an interesting character and could have given a lot to the game here.

I'm sorry. I must go now. The phone's ringing.

Must be that French agent again!

ends