The Tallest Japanese Footballer

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]This is Mike Havenaar, born to Dutch parents in Hiroshima. He's 6'6" (194cm) and has been picked to represent Japan in an Under-20 Football World Cup match against Scotland. His father, Dido, arrived in Japan in 1986 to join the local league as a goalkeeper and he now works as a coach for Yokohama F. Marinos while Mike plays for them as a striker. They are the first father and son to have played in the J-League. Mike has an older brother and younger sister and all three children have been brought up to speak Dutch, Japanese and English. His Wiki entry says that the family took Japanese nationality in 1994.

[Doctor Stop]

I see. It's an international match, so ringers of foreign heritage and of ability superior to native Japanese are officially sanctioned.

The associations have introduced tough restrictions on foreign students because they are trouncing the Japanese athletes in sports such as the ekiden relay marathon, basketball and table tennis.

The restrictions followed protests from Japanese fans who say the superior ability of the foreign students is making the sporting events dull.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200706290152.html

[Greji]

I see. It's an international match, so ringers of foreign heritage and of ability superior to native Japanese are officially sanctioned.

Naw, Doc. I'm sure they want to follow your point on this and ban them for eternity, if not longer, but since the whole family is no longer FGs and are now bona fide Japanese citizens, they don't have a way to get at them. You gotta know this is hurting their special samurai spirit deep!

[Charles]

I see. It's an international match, so ringers of foreign heritage and of ability superior to native Japanese are officially sanctioned.

The associations have introduced tough restrictions on foreign students because they are trouncing the Japanese athletes in sports such as the ekiden relay marathon, basketball and table tennis.

The restrictions followed protests from Japanese fans who say the superior ability of the foreign students is making the sporting events dull.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200706290152.html

It's already the dullest sport on earth, so gaijin can't make it any duller.

[Mulboyne]

He didn't score but Japan won,

[Doctor Stop]

Naw, Doc. I'm sure they want to follow your point on this and ban them for eternity, if not longer, but since the whole family is no longer FGs and are now bona fide Japanese citizens, they don't have a way to get at them. You gotta know this is hurting their special samurai spirit deep!

The thing that's really eating at them is that Mike smells like butter and they don't have any scones.

[Guile]

I went down to watch this game this afternoon, as I live in Victoria, Japan was nimble and beat Scotland 3:1. It was a good game!

[Ennui March]

just saw him buying shoes at the gotanda big mans shoe store yesterday.

birkenstocks.

[RyoHazuki]

The best player ever was only 164cm anyway
size has nothing to do with that sport!

Kami Sama! Diego!

[Hokuto-shinken]

Ryo Hazuki, did you find Lan Di?

[Mulboyne]

[ythq]M_0S9D8o-7A[/ythq]

Yomiuri: Striker Havenaar stands tall for Ventforet

Despite playing in the J.League's second division, Mike Havenaar has drawn the eye of Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni. And not just because the Japanese national of Dutch descent stands at 1.94 meters. Havenaar, the son of former J.Leaguer Dirk "Dido" Havenaar, has helped Ventforet Kofu earn promotion to the first division, netting a J2-leading 19 goals in 30 games.

On Nov. 7, Havenaar recorded his first career hat-trick as Kofu defeated Giravanz Kitakyushu at home 6-0. A week later, a 2-0 victory at Tochigi SC clinched at least third place and a jump to J1 for next season. In the 37th minute game against Kitakyushu, Havenaar received the ball with his back to the goal. He skillfully turned and fired for his first goal. Two minutes later, he blasted in a left-footed from 30 meters out. "'Just shoot,' I thought, and the ball went in," Havenaar said. At 51 minutes, receiving a cross from his right, he used his height to successfully head in another and complete the hat-trick. Showing the confidence of one with the wind at his back, he declared, "I want to beat the team's J2 record," referring to the 21 goals scored by Brazilian Bare in 2005.

The oldest son of Dirk, who became goalkeeper coach for Japan and obtained Japanese citizenship after his playing days, Havenaar has experience playing for the Japan under-20 team. He made his J1 debut with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2006. But limited playing time hampered his opportunity to enhance his skills. He moved on loan for one season to Avispa Fukuoka, where he scored seven goals in 26 matches.

The turning point of his career came last season, when he was loaned to J2 Sagan Tosu and became a regular in the lineup, scoring 16 goals in 33 matches. A full transfer landed him at Kofu this season, where, instead of being the gangly teenager whose only advantage was his height, he has transformed into a dangerous striker. "He's become the type of player you would want to see in J1," Ventforet coach Kazuo Uchida said.

His big game against Giravanz was witnessed from the stands by a national team coach and a staff member from the Japan Football Association. Zaccheroni prefers large-sized forwards and has experience developing them with AC Milan and Udinese of Italy's Serie A, such as 1.91-meter German international Oliver Bierhoff. Havenaar looks to fit the bill just right.

[ythq]QCFVehSvMcA[/ythq]

[Mulboyne]

Havenaar made his debut for the national team in the win over North Korea. One of his shots hit the post. He's actually good with the ball at his feet but it seems the team want to use his height to be a threat in the air.

[IparryU]

I see. It's an international match, so ringers of foreign heritage and of ability superior to native Japanese are officially sanctioned.

The associations have introduced tough restrictions on foreign students because they are trouncing the Japanese athletes in sports such as the ekiden relay marathon, basketball and table tennis.

The restrictions followed protests from Japanese fans who say the superior ability of the foreign students is making the sporting events dull.

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200706290152.html

how can japanese sports get any duller.... my nephew is in basketball club and i told him to watch NBA matches and use the US 3 point line when he practices so he can out perform the other kids. He asked why NBA and not JapFakeBA and I told him watch a game or two and you will figure out quick.

he ended up not watching and sucking horribly to the point where he joined the badminton club...

cant stan watchin them japanese players play their heart out, have a "Japan" version of the game with slightly modified rules, then cry when they lose...

not to mention judo... getting their ass handed to them in the beijing olympics... "we just got our asses kicked... because of them FGs shooting on our Japanese players... lets rule out shooting cause our wrestlers dont know how to sprawl..."

/end of meaningless rant

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

my nephew is in basketball club and i told him to watch NBA matches and use the US 3 point line when he practices so he can out perform the other kids. He asked why NBA and not JapFakeBA and I told him watch a game or two and you will figure out quick.

Fuck playing skills. Why would you want to try your hand in the NBA when you could become a star in the BJ League?

I know which one appeals to me the most...

[IparryU]

Fuck playing skills. Why would you want to try your hand in the NBA when you could become a star in the BJ League?

I know which one appeals to me the most...

well... i would drop the ball for a bj anyday... BJ league it is...

[Greji]

well... i would drop the ball for a bj anyday... BJ league it is...

Easily done. The home court for the BJ league is in 2 Chome....