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Unus Alladin

Serie A star Hiroshi Nanami flew into Hong Kong yesterday after answering a Carlsberg Cup SOS from Japan.

 The AC Venezia midfielder made the last-minute dash from Italy when his club belatedly agreed to release him for the Lunar New Year tournament.

 Nanami was originally pencilled in for an important league fixture against AS Roma - but his club had a change of heart and said he could turn out for Japan in the SAR.

 News of the gifted 27-year-old's release delighted Japan coach Philippe Troussier ahead of his team's opening match against Mexico at Hong Kong Stadium tomorrow.

 'It's a bonus he has come because he is a good player and he has some experience playing in Europe,' said Troussier.

 'He went to Italy last July and it is his first stint playing for a foreign club. We're very happy he can join us,' the Frenchman added.

 Although Nanami made the trip, Troussier said Japanese superstar Hidetoshi Nakata, who recently joined Roma from Perugia in an GBP11 million deal, had stayed in Italy.

 'His mind will not be 100 per cent focused if he were to come here. He needs to adjust to his new club in Rome,' said Troussier.

 'That's why it's better if he doesn't come.'  Troussier was also pleased that veteran striker Kazuyoshi Miura, one of Asia's best-known players and a surprise inclusion in Japan's 22-strong squad, will give them vital experience up front.

 'I have been very surprised by his attitude. He may be 32 but his fitness is that of a 20-year-old,' said Troussier. 'He's a leader and I need a man of that calibre in my group. He's a positive person.'  Troussier, the former South Africa and Nigeria national coach, was optimistic about his team's chances against Carlsberg Cup champions Mexico but added the squad had had only 10 days to prepare for the tournament.

 'We have had no preparation matches before coming here. It will be a difficult match for us against Mexico.

 'I'm expecting my team to show good attitude. Hong Kong Stadium has been a lucky ground for us,' said Troussier.

 'This tournament is good preparation for us for the Asian Cup qualifiers in Macau [later this month].'  Troussier had invited 10 members of the under-22 squad which successfully negotiated the Asian Olympic qualifiers last year to the week-long camp, as he did at Japan's last training camp in Shizuoka Prefecture last month.

 J.League pin-up boy Shinji Ono, who is on the verge of a transfer to Europe after catching the eye of both Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, is also part of the squad.

 Ono, who plays for Uwara Reds, made his World Cup finals debut in France 98 when he was only 18 and is considered a potential Asian superstar in the English Premier League.

 The Japanese squad had their first training camp in Naraha in near-freezing conditions last week after which a party of 29 players was trimmed to 22.

 Also arriving yesterday for Japan were Jubilo Iwata skipper Masashi Nakayama and Olympic talents Shunsuke Nakamura and Tomoyuki Hirase.

 Meanwhile, another European-based player, Rafael Marquez, arrived in the SAR to join the Mexican team.

 Marquez, who plays for French First Division leaders Monaco, helped his team to a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night to stretch Monaco's lead to 10 points.

 The Japan-Mexico clash opens the tournament at 3.15pm tomorrow before the Hong Kong League XI take on the Czech Republic at 5.30pm.



Serie A ace answers call to arms