No.009 2010.02 
LEE Chung Yong
”Made in Holland”: Re-import star HONDA Keisuke |
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HONDA, goal scorer in the August 2nd match versus PSV, is congratulated by a teammate.
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“Honda Fever” first started in Holland on August 2nd 90 minutes into what was VVV’s opening match versus Dutch giants, PSV.
VVV conceded a 0-2 lead in the first half and everyone was thinking “Just as I thought, PSV are good”. But in the 53rd minute Japan national team MF HONDA Keisuke set up Achmed AHAHAOUI’s goal with a back heel and then in the 60th minute scored himself with a volley to draw the scores level at 2-2. Then he tore through the PSV team including Belgium national team captain MF Timmy SIMONS, Mexico national team DF Carlos SALCIDO and Dutch national team DF Dirk MARCELLIS with a 50 meter run.
The match finished 3-3 but HONDA had been handed the captain’s arm band despite not being able to speak Dutch and this match was when the whole of Holland learned about the offensive and skillful attributes of this blonde haired Japanese player.
One month later HONDA became the talking point of Holland. The first 15 minutes of a Dutch football program began with a special section on HONDA. Following an August 22nd match versus FC GRONINGEN the TV commentator praised HONDA saying this the next day: “They scored one goal from HONDA’s free kick but it wasn't his goal scoring that was the highlight it was the two times he controlled the ball.
Look at it again and again and again. Look! It's a “San Siro Moment”. But this is VVV’s stadium, De Kuul”. The San Siro moment means a scene you can only see by visiting Milan’s stadium which is the brilliant level HONDA is at. Surely this is the highest praise possible for HONDA. The question of “Which is the best mid-fielder in Holland, HONDA or (PSV’s) Ibrahim AFELLAY (Dutch national team)?” was also evaluated.
The country of Holland seems to suit HONDA’s personality. “In Japan you get knocked down if you try and prove yourself but in Holland you get encouraged for this” commented a Dutch journalist who knows Japanese culture well. HONDA was classed a big mouth in Japan for speaking his opinion but comments like “Next season I want to go to a higher club. This season I will play my best for VVV but next I want to succeed at a big Dutch club then on to a bigger league, ideally Spain. In the future I want to play for REAL MADRID” are admired by Dutch for indicating his deep desires.
Also, the Dutch league has a culture of forgiving young player’s mistakes. This means that HONDA can set out to achieve themes before a match such as “I’ll have 5 shots today” or “I’ll be the playmaker today” and extend himself to try new things. It is not just that the fans will support him crazily but also that it is an environment where he will seen as a professional for doing so.
A big area where HONDA has converted has been his growth in “assists”. One of his coaches at NAGOYA GRAMPUS and the PSV coach that helped bring him to Holland was Sef VERGOOSSEN who analyses it like this “HONDA converted to a “number10” last season and he has grown well from there”. It was VVV head coach Jan VAN DIJK who converted him from a centre half in to a “number 10” playing just behind the forwards. In the summer of 2008 VAN DIJK became the head coach of VVV and straight away became upset by the many Dutch journalists and fans who asked only HONDA-focused questions like “how is he going to use HONDA?” “Will HONDA’s absence at the start of the season due to the Beijing Olympics affect the team?” etc. “Before coming to VVV I coached Saudi Arabia’s AL NASR so was a little out of touch with the Dutch league and didn't really know about HONDA” says VAN DIJK. But after watching him train for just one week I soon understood the feelings of the journalists and fans who had asked all of those questions. I thought, “He’s a great player, to maximize his ability, I need to use him as a number 10”. He left the team for the Beijing Olympics but thanks to his abilities I knew he would be able to fit back in soon after returning”.
HONDA has grown a lot since being converted to play in the “Number 10” position.
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From HONDA’s point of view the timing of his conversion was perfect. Japan were knocked out of the Beijing Olympics and HONDA came under criticism from the Japanese media and fans. Then he couldn't get a transfer and it was decided he would play in the 2nd division. Just before the Olympics he also got married.
The hurt of elimination from the Olympics, the feelings the criticism brought up and being turned down for a transfer as well as the responsibility of a newly wed… These all sapped at HONDA’s energy levels and the feeling of “if it keeps going like this its no good. I have to produce more results (=goals)” began to be formed. The player who idealized RIQUELME’s ability to control the match and be a playmaker had suddenly been transformed into a striker.
The conversion that head coach VAN DIYK had initiated resulted in 16 goals that first season, the VVV captain led his team to win the second division and he was named MVP and it was then that “HONDA Fever” really began to spread.
This year on September 5th the Dutch and Japan national teams played an international friendly in Enschede and it was the Dutch people who were afraid. One TV commentator said “”Our HONDA” isn’t even in the starting line up. That’s how strong Japan are”.
After the match there was a strange spectacle noticed by the Dutch people. “In front of the Japan team bus all of the Japanese people wanted NAKAMURA Shunsuke’s autograph. Behind him no one wanted HONDA’s autograph and he passed through unnoticed. In Holland that kind of thing would be impossible. “Isn’t HONDA very famous in Japan?” asked another commentator.
That’s right. HONDA has become a star amongst the Dutch but in Japan he is still an up and coming player. In the near future he will definitely start making an impact on Japanese and Asian football and will be known as “the star born in Holland”.
＜Profile＞
MF HONDA Keisuke
Born in Osaka, Japan on 13th June 1986. After he graduated from Seiyu High School he entered NAGOYA GRAMPUS and was a starting player by his second season. In January 2008 he transferred to Dutch club, VVV. In the 2008-09 season he scored 16 goals and helped earn his team promotion to the first division and individually was named the second division MVP. He is earning more and more national team opportunities after making his debut in 2006.
NAKATA Toru＝Text
