7 Jul 2005(Thu)

TOKYO (July 6): It was interesting to see the "Emerson Bento" for sale outside Saitama Stadium 2002 on Sunday night.

Naturally, I did not buy one, as readers know he is not exactly my favourite player.

His ability as a goal-scorer is not in question.

It's his approach to the game I don't like, always looking for a free kick or a penalty, always pretending he is injured, and always looking to get an opposing player booked or sent off.

Anyway, all this is not an issue at the moment, because he has let down the club and the fans yet again.

"When is he coming back?" I asked Guido on Sunday, after the win over Albirex.

"I don't know," he admitted.

"Where is he?" was the follow-up question.

"I don't know," said Guido again. "It's unbelievable!"

Yes it is. A player earning so much money, who is clearly capable of playing at a higher level than the J.League, just not showing up after his holiday.

According to sources, first he said his baby son had a fever, so they could not travel back, and then his wife needed a transit visa for the United States, hence another delay.

It reminds me of the Edilson fiasco with Kashiwa Reysol, when the player said he needed to go to the dentist's in Brazil and would be late back.

I really hope Reds are severe with Emerson, like they were with Alpay, as this is hardly the first time it has happened.

In fact Hans Ooft told me they had fined him a total of US$60,000 during the 2003 Nabisco Cup-winning season for being late back to Japan or late for training.

"I told him it would be cheaper to buy an alarm clock," Ooft said.

Guido is not laughing at the moment, though, and who can blame him?

There are six rounds of J1 games in July, and Reds are capable of claiming 18 points to haul in Kashima Antlers.

They already have three from one game, without Emerson, and it's unlikely he will feature soon when he comes back, as he will not be match-fit. And why should Guido leave out Tanaka or Nagai or any other player who has the good of the club at heart?

Back to the Emerson bento.

This led to a few jokes, of course. One was that you opened the Emerson bento box and there was nothing inside. It had disappeared!

Another was that the pieces of meat were, in fact, Emerson himself, having been cut up by angry fans.

Will the Reds fans continue to worship him?

Sadly, I suspect so.

ends