Keiji Shigetomi knows the magnitude of his task in his first senior appointment as head coach of reigning Singapore Premier League (SPL) champions Albirex Niigata.
After three seasons of sweeping all competitive silverware, anything less than complete dominance this term might be considered a failure.
But the White Swans coach is unfazed.
"Of course, I'm excited for the upcoming season," Shigetomi told The Straits Times. "I'm a little bit nervous too, because last year we were champions for everything.
"But I'm enjoying myself and I'm having fun. I feel fantastic."
He is not one to shy away from challenges. He had no qualms speaking to ST without a translator - which was not often practised by his predecessors - even if he admits his command of English is "not so great".
FIXTURES
TODAY, 5.30PM
Geylang International v Albirex Niigata (Our Tampines Hub)
Young Lions v Balestier Khalsa (Jalan Besar Stadium)
TOMORROW, 5.30PM
Home United v Brunei DPMM (Bishan Stadium)
Hougang United v Tampines Rovers (Jalan Besar Stadium)
Geylang v Albirex live streaming: www.fas.org.sg/live1
Just one match into the new season, he is already feeling the heat.
Shigetomi's introduction to Singapore football ended in defeat as Albirex failed in their bid to lift a fourth successive Community Shield - a non-competitive trophy - after losing on penalties to Home United last Saturday.
The loss has raised questions whether the new-look squad, with only four players retained from last season, can match up to their predecessors.
One of them is attacking midfielder Hiroyoshi Kamata, who said: "We could not win the Community Shield, but we are still aiming for success in the SPL and Singapore Cup.
"It has been said that we are weaker this year than last year, but I think this target can certainly be realised."
Skipper Kyoga Nakamura, a new arrival who represented Japan at the 2013 Under-17 World Cup, added: "Now that we have played our first official game, we understand our places in the team better. We are working seriously to correct and modify what we have to."
Shigetomi, who arrived in Singapore in 2014 to lead Albirex's soccer school and stepped up to assistant coach for the SPL team last season, is keen to continue with the slick football of predecessor Kazuaki Yoshinaga's team.
The new man in the hot seat, however, realises that this is not a straightforward task.
Other than having to integrate a new-look side, Shigetomi also has to contend with new SPL rules which require Albirex to sign at least four Singaporean players, with at least two playing the entire first half.
The club missed out on several targets in the close season, but still managed to sign six local players.
"Six local players joined, but three are students, so they can join our (usual) morning training sessions only one or two times every week. So it is a bit of headache for me," said Shigetomi, with a wry smile.
The difference in culture will also take time to bridge.
The coach cited how his local players would arrive less than 30 minutes before training sessions.
In contrast, the Japanese players would report for training more than 90 minutes earlier to do proper stretching.
"But I have seen improvement and these days it is OK," said the 39-year-old.
The former head coach of the Sanfreece Hiroshima Soccer School in Japan is optimistic his side will gel and grow as the season progresses and can challenge on all fronts.
"Yes, it is so difficult to do," he said. "We need to have more quality in our passing and our defending.
"But I think over time, the players will understand each other more and we will get better.
"So our target is still to win all (the competitive) trophies."
Reports on Friday evening suggested this weekend's game with Newcastle will be Jose Mourinho's last as Manchester United manager. Here, Football Paradise takes a look at Mourinho's United reign. Trophies Mourinho became the first United manager ever to mark his debut season at Old Trafford
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur to trigger Toby Alderweireld contract extension, says Mauricio Pochettino The move prevents Belgium international Alderweireld, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United by the British media, from leaving on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Spurs to trigger Alderweireld contract extension, says
Pep Guardiola trusts Manchester City to resolve Financial Fair Play allegations European soccer's governing body opened a formal investigation into the alleged FFP violations on Thursday, a move Manchester City welcomed in a bid to end speculation surrounding the club's sponsorship agreements.
Guardiola trusts Man City to resolve FFP allegations
Leroy Sane struck the winner as Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League clash on Thursday, inflicting the first loss of the season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their
Soccer Football - Champions League Semi Final First Leg - Tottenham Hotspur v Ajax Amsterdam - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - April 30, 2019 Ajax's Donny van de Beek scores their first
Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Tottenham in semi-final
United, Spurs, Juve and Inter ready to heat up ICC S'pore Now into its third year in Singapore, the International Champions Cup (ICC) is set for its most exciting edition yet with Serie A heavyweights Juventus and Inter Milan, and English Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur confirming their participation yesterday.
Spurs Fan Club Singapore - Best Fan ImageForms.Co
FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini soccer player arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.
FIFA Says In Regular Contact With AFC Over Detained Bahraini
CAM NEWTON CRYING ABOUT UNFAIR TREATMENT FROM NFL OFFICIALS 78SPORTSTV. NFL QB Jared Goff Pranks Unsuspecting College Football Team - Duration: 6 Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM 1,015,234
Local reaction to controversial NFL demonstrations mixed
Thierry Henry's coaching stint at AS Monaco could already be over, with the club deciding to suspend the former France striker from his duties on Thursday while it makes a final decision on his
Henry set to lose Monaco job | Free Malaysia Today
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refuses to give up on the Top Four after dropping points to Chelsea Sky Sports Football Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke after his Manchester United side were held to a 1-1 draw
Manchester United Players 'Need to Fear' Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Manchester United's top-four hopes are over after Isaac Mbenza punished a shambolic display to earn relegated Huddersfield a memorable 1-1 draw in their final Premier League home match
Huddersfield vs Manchester United: Top-four spot slips out of
France women's football team coach Corinne Diacre said media coverage of women's football, including stepped-up live broadcasts of France's top league, had "developed enormously" ahead of the World Cup. PHOTO: AFP "When I started in football in the 1980s, it was very rare to see a girl playing, we were really looked down upon.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
Sports Women's World Cup: Germany snatch fortunate win over China. Germany opened their 2019 Women's World Cup campaign with a win, although the scoreline didn't reflect the true nature of the game.
Giulia Gwinn's goal helps Germany beat China to open FIFA
Report Ad
Our Football Frames Make One-of-a-Kind Gifts! Shop Our Extensive Selection Of Football Frames
watch premier league games live stream
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch soccer live stream app
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch premier league stream reddit
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch premier league live streaming video
soccer tv live net stream
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch live soccer stream android
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer live stream links
watch us soccer live stream
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming now
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer live stream apk
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer am live stream
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
#freekicks #barcelona #fcbarcelona #hotcoffee #golf #manchestercity #gooners #noelgallagher #chocolatecoffee #Suarez #watchlive #soccer #Celtic #klopp #coutinho #league2 #Vip45 #cristianoronaldo #champion #messi #transfernews #kroenkeout #ignoranza #oasisofficial #premierleague #arsenal #chocolate #oasis #linkstreaming #leicestercity #comics #hoffenhiem #knuckleball #henderson #arsenalnews #thomasmeunier #gunners #mancityvsliverpool #paulmcartney #seriea #lovefootball #thebeatles #crossfit #comico #livesports #beatifulgame #fut #meunier #gym #Sunday #battuteepiche #24x7 #cristiano #risate #bayern #mane #salah #liverpoolfans #vip #calciatoribrutti #liverpoolcity #conference #afcnews #commentimemorabili #alissonbecker #freekickerz #oasisengland #realmadrid #rockstar #zinedinezidane
0 comments:
Post a Comment