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Alex Brosque a key man amongst Aussies abroad

16th June, 2011
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16th June, 2011
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Sydney FC's Alex Brosque takes a shot at goal during the A-League match against the Wellington Phoenix FC. AAP Image/Paul Miller

Sydney FC's Alex Brosque takes a shot at goal during the A-League match against the Wellington Phoenix FC. AAP Image/Paul Miller

When Alex Brosque stepped up to the penalty spot in stoppage time on Wednesday night, he had the weight of a football-mad town on his shoulders. Shimizu S-Pulse are one of the most popular clubs in Japan, and Brosque is developing into a key man for the Shizuoka side.

Shimizu were awarded a penalty four minutes into stoppage time in their clash with Montedio Yamagata on Wednesday night, and although the home side had several notable players on the pitch – including ex-Bundesliga star Naohiro Takahara – it was Brosque who stepped up to take it.

If ever there was a moment to test Brosque’s mental fortitude, this was it.

A quick glance at referee Masaaki Iemoto, a deep breath and then euphoria: Brosque had side-footed a confident spot-kick past Yuki Uekusa to send the S-Pulse fans into delirium.

I’m often accused of viewing the J. League through orange-tinted glasses, but the reason I believe Shimizu are an important Asian club is because they’re one of the few teams in the region founded as the result of community rather than corporate interests.

But with such a deep connection to the local community comes expectation, and one of my concerns when Brosque moved to the J. League was how he would handle the pressure of being a high-profile foreign signing.

That hasn’t been a problem according to S-Pulse fan Daisuke Matsuura, who says Brosque has been quick to win over hearts and minds.

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“Alex Brosque has earned trust from coach Ghotbi, his teammates, and supporters simply by showing his continuous dedication to his team,” Matsuura told me.

“What impressed me the most was how much he ran for defence in a few games in the beginning of the season. It was almost like he was trying to cover the entire field,” he said.

Another man who has seen Shimizu’s vociferous supporters turn against foreign signings is Barry Valder, who writes a long-running blog about the Shizuoka club.

“Alex has settled in well. Playing behind the top three but with a free reign to go forward. Good that he got his first goal early versus Nagoya,” Valder told me, adding that he expects to see the Australian international chime in with ten goals this season.

So far he’s scored three, but impressively they’ve all been vital ones.

There was the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against defending champions Nagoya, the opener before laying on a second away at Omiya and Wednesday’s heart-stopping clincher to see off a stubborn Yamagata in front of the Shimizu fans.

What makes Brosque’s form all the more impressive is the fact he’s joined a side unrecognisable from previous campaigns.

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Shimizu saw 15 players depart during the off-season, including jewel in the crown Jungo Fujimoto, while long-serving coach and former club stalwart Kenta Hasegawa announced his decision to step down midway through a disappointing 2010 campaign.

Whether Shimizu win a trophy this season or not, Brosque should take immense satisification from the fact he’s able to cut it in the best league in Asia.

Recently I spoke to another peripatetic Australian, Danny Allsopp, and he told me how proud he was to have played professionally on four different continents.

As fans and analysts desperate to see Australians excel on the highest stage, we sometimes forget that simply moving to another country to experience different sights and cultures can be a personal triumph all on its own.

Brosque has a young family by his side in Shizuoka, and of course the influence of the redoubtable Eddy Bosnar shouldn’t be understated.

But the Australian international has also overcome a controversial departure from Sydney FC, being played in an unfamiliar position and the high expectations which come with joining a club desperate for silverware.

There’s still a long way to go, but if Alex Brosque wants his critics to judge him for his on-field performances, he’s certainly going the right way about it.

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