soccer

Japanese woman soccer star joins men's team

12 Comments
By PATRIK STOLLARZ

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12 Comments
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10 yrs earlier would have been better timing. Hope she has fun.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

What a great move. Kudos, Nagasato san.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

will play for Hayabusa Eleven, an amateur outfit

Then...

will play as a professional with Hayabusa Eleven

Confusing. Is this team professional, or a kick-and-giggle amateur team? If she is receiving no pay, Nagasato will play as an amateur.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Fighto!

What's confusing?

The team is an amateur team.

She is a Pro player.

She is on loan from her club in the states. Loaned pro players are almost always paid by the parent club. But regardless pro players from pro clubs are still paid. It's kind of in the name.

Google is a great thing to fill the gaps in general knowledge which a newspaper editor doesn't have time to include.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"I thought I could show that women can also play in a men's team,"

Sure, but generally not at the same level. Didn't the US women's team lose to a team of high school boys?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Cool.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yes, the USWNT scrimmaged against a boys team in Dallas. It was a scrimmage, not a match. How that figures into Nagasato playing with a men's team is moot.

Homare Sawa and a gathering of Nadeshiko teammates from the WC team aka Nadeshiko, scrimmaged against professional male players and outscored them or if you wish defeated the men.

Nagasato, is one of the best soccer players in the world and though recently turned 33, is a formidable presence, technically skilled and still very fast. Nagasato was nominated as MVP of the US NWSL, women's league in the USA, last season. Though 33, her skills have improved, not diminished. She is highly intelligent, disciplined and dedicated to the game. Nagasato, is also very funny, good-humored and witty.

Women may 'generally' not be at the same level, but Nagasato is a level above. Her technical skills are exemplary and ability to read the game extraordinary. Her fitness is that of a world-class athlete and few achieve her level of conditioning. I've seen Nagasato play numerous times, she is genuinely amazing.

Nagasato is on hiatus from the Chicago Chicago Red Stars, a top team in the women's professional league. She will be playing in her hometown of Atsugi and it is several levels below the J-League.

She will do well and definitely be a draw for the team. How often do you get to witness one of the greats?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Richard Gallagher

She will do well and definitely be a draw for the team. How often do you get to witness one of the greats?

great post, fully agree.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

She is on loan from her club in the states. Loaned pro players are almost always paid by the parent club.

Good for her. I just was not sure of the amateur/professional situation. I have no doubt Nagasato will show up all of the male players at that level. At times I feel Nadeshiko Japan are better than the Japanese mens team and could maybe beat them!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Very interesting. I hope there are follow-up stories. Undoubtedly some women are capable of playing at the level of the best men, but I have never seen it happen......yet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Women should not be allowed to play on the men’s team. I wonder what the reaction would be if it were a man wanting to play on the women’s team!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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