Diminutive dynamo: Takumi Sasaki in action against Kuala Lumpur in the Super League. — Negri Sembilan FC
PETALING JAYA: Takumi Sasaki is a pint-sized playmaker with big goals. And the 26-year-old Japanese finds it hard to accept that his team Negri Sembilan are bottom of the 13-team Super League.
It’s not hard to understand his frustration. Sasaki certainly deserves better as he has been the Deer’s top player, having provided five assists in 15 league games and boasting the highest passing accuracy in his side at 77 percent.
With Negri struggling with just six points from 15 games, Sasaki has issued a clarion call for his teammates to start winning more matches - starting with the tie against Pahang at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi today.
“This is an important match for us, and we must win it. We should be doing better than where we are now. Furthermore, we have yet to even win on our home ground,’’ said Sasaki, who has featured for J-League sides like Vegalta Sendai, Tokushima Vortis and Ehime.
‘’As this is my first season in Malaysia, I have much to prove and I’m determined to help the team move up.’’
It is learnt that Negri intend to build the team around Sasaki for next season by offering him a one-year contract extension.
But for now, he’s more focused on the game against Pahang, a side helmed by Singaporean legend Fandi Ahmad.
Sasaki has singled out two Argentinians in the team who must be contained as they are capable of being the match winners.
“I’m wary of their right winger, (Manuel) Hidalgo and defender (Stefano) Brundo, because I’ve seen them play.”
Pahang may be only 10th in the league with 15 points from 14 games, but they have defied the odds by reaching the Malaysia Cup semi-final.
If Negri are to find a breakthrough against the Elephants, they can be sure that Sasaki will be at the heart of it.
