Jumpei Kusukami’s recent departure from Western Sydney Wanderers would’ve barely registered on the radar of most A-League fans.
The Japanese winger mostly frustrated during his 18-month tenure with the Wanderers, showing glimpses of his undoubted talent but never producing the consistency to make his a first-team regular and fan favourite in the mould of the Wanderers original Japanese star, Shinji Ono.
But his loss is a sad one for the A-League and lays bare a statistic that is an indictment on the entire league – there are now no Asian players in the A-League. Zero. Zip. Nada. Not a single one. And this after being a member of the Asian Football Confederation for well over a decade.
Yes, Ali Abbas is at Wellington, but he has been a naturalised Australian for many years now and is classified as such for A-League regulations. He doesn’t count as a foreigner. The sad reality is, if he was still counted as an Iraqi then he wouldn’t be playing in the A-League.
How is it that after 12 years of playing in Asia, seeing first-hand the talent that exists, not only in the continental giants such as Japan and Korea, but also in the so-called minnows like Thailand, Vietnam and some of the Gulf states, that clubs still remain reluctant to look to our north when it comes to signing foreign players?
How many times do Australian national teams and club sides need to be ‘surprised’, and why we remain surprised is another point all together, before clubs and fans sit up, take notice and acknowledge the opportunities that exist?
Some of us have been banging on about this for a number of years. I remember calling for the likes of Thai duo Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda to be considered by A-League clubs many years ago, and now both, having shown their wares on more than one occasion against Australia at international level, will be lining up in the J.League next year.
Melbourne Victory are crying out for a left back and Theerathon would’ve been a perfect fit with their ACL campaign just around the corner, while there are countless clubs across the league who could use the predatory instincts of Teerasil.
The AFC U23 Championships kick off this week in China featuring the very best young talent that Asia has to offer. A-League clubs fought tooth and nail to stop their players from participating in what they’ve unbelievably described as a “meaningless tournament”.
Not only does that add to Australia’s poor reputation in Asia, it also misses the point entirely. How many A-League talent scouts will be in China, or at the very least watching online streams, scouting for young talent to bring to the A-League?
I hazard a guess the number would be the same as the number of Asian players currently in the A-League – zero.
It’s not as if the AFC U23 Championship has a history of producing talent either.
The 2017 AFC Player of the Year, Omar Khrbin, played in the tournament for Syria in 2016 (as well as in 2013), as did Thailand’s Chanathip Songkrasin and Korea’s Kwon Chang-hoon, who has since secured a move to French side Dijon and has been one of the standouts for the mid-table club this season.
The man who scored the winner for Japan in 2016 was none other than Takuma Asano, who is playing at VfB Stuttgart on loan from Arsenal.
Meanwhile, the leading scorer back in 2013, Iranian Kaveh Rezaei, is now the equal top scorer in the Belgian Pro League, with ten goals in 20 appearances for Charleroi and looks certain to be included in Iran’s 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup this year.
The Olyroos kick off their campaign on Thursday against Syria, and who knows there could be another Omar Khrbin on the pitch staring us in the face. But elsewhere there is talent aplenty, if clubs just dared to look.
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Thai attacker Supachok Sarachat, who at just 19, scored seven goals in 17 matches for Buriram United as they stormed their way to the title, has a bright future ahead of him, as does Iraqi midfielder Hussein Ali who starred at the recent Gulf Cup in Kuwait.
But one player Australia will see up close is Vietnamese star Nguyễn Công Phượng. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is part of an extremely talented generation of players to have developed in the Hoàng Anh Gia Lai – Arsenal JMG Academy and is a player Australia should know very well.
The diminutive midfielder, who spent a season on loan with Mito HollyHock in Japan in 2016, scored seven goals in qualifying for the 2014 AFC U19 Championships, including a brace against Australia in a 5-1 win for Vietnam and followed it up almost 12 months later with another wondergoal against Australia to seal a 1-0 win at the ASEAN U19 Championships in Hanoi.
Australian fans have marveled at the skill of Chanathip when Australia has played Thailand in recent years, but how many would be happy for their club to give a chance to a player every bit as talented like Nguyễn, from what most in Australia would consider a football backwater like Vietnam?
The longer we close our eyes, the more talent we miss. Let’s hope someone in club land has the foresight to actually watch the AFC U23 Championships, and not just dismiss it as a meaningless nuisance.
Bruce
Guest
That was a good win v Syria.
Bfc
Guest
Did the Roar win "despite" the cap? Did they win under Ange because it was almost "the perfect storm"..having the perfect coach for the period and a squad of players in their prime (vs the current squad that has a lot of players past their prime and a bunch yet to peak...).
Bfc
Guest
Hard to see the HAL competing on salary alone...CSL, K-league, J-league all have budgets we can only dream of right now. Bigger names are in Europe already and the next tier earn big bucks (be it Yuan, Won or Yen..) so their is little incentive to come to the HAL unless it is (as was with Ono..) as a 'marquee' signing. I suspect the Middle East comps also pay more than the HAL... So sweet FA to do with 'race' methinks...
Bfc
Guest
Meanwhile...our Olyroos have a solid win against Syria...and zero coverage on this site or general media. Club v Country...? Ask the lads playing in the green n gold...
Realfootball
Guest
The salary cap really has to go if our league is to compete.
Kris
Guest
It is not a fait-accompli that players from lower ranked Asian nations would be issued with Visas. They have to pass the functional English requirement (which most / many would) but also to get a 408 visa -there must be a contractual arrangement in place -you must have an established reputation in your field of sport -the Australian national sporting body must provide a letter of endorsement stating that you:have the ability to play, coach or instruct or adjudicate at the Australian national level will benefit the sport in Australia through your participation in that sport. Then the department of Immigration has to agree. It is probably easier to convince Immigration that a player is capable coming from a higher ranked nation or league (eg Spain) than a lower (eg India).
AR
Guest
Fuss, couple of things... First, no one was talking about the AFL until you brought it up. Again. You’re old friend irony is still a stranger eh? Second, you rationalise what happens in the ALeague because that’s what happens in the AFL. In other words, “if it’s good enough for the AFL, it’s good enough for us!” (Irony waves through he window again) I thought Football was special..?
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Should A-League managers buy players based on their nationality? Are they rac'st if they don't buy Asians? There is virtually no Asian representation in all major sports in Australia, including Victorian Rules. Is that based on their ability or rac'sm. Good discussion points.
Redondo
Guest
China v North Korea at Canberra sold out - around 18,500 with queues unable to get tickets. Iran v Iraq at Canberra got nearly 19,000 so must have been a sell-out as well. I was there and it was packed - one of the best Asian Cup games I've seen.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Yeah, I don't know why these coaches have got a 3-year contract.
Kangajets
Guest
Correct 40000 at Sydney Korea v Iraq Abt 25000 at Canberra Iran v Iraq Even 14000 at Newcastle for Japan v Jordan It was a remarkable tournament. Loved every minute of it Not one drawn game in 32 qualifying matches pre quarter finals Cahill rescuing us against China Seeing Abdul Rahman play at Newcastle in the semi And the amazing final in Sydney
Waz
Guest
It is, I don’t think people appreciate the money that is available to good players in Asia, even in smaller countries. And India now has a soccer league averaging 30k crowds and massive tv audiences and it won’t be long before they contribute to regional wage inflation as well.
Waz
Guest
I wonder how many clubs will just have 4 visa players next season?
Mark
Guest
I think those glasses you’re looking back on the Asian Cup through are a bit too rose colored. Matches not involving Australia had respectable crowds, particularly when contrasted with previous Asian Cups, and I dare say compared to what UAE will get next year, but they were hardly sell outs. I don’t recall any match not featuring Australia getting anything close to 40k or a sell out. If it did, it would have been the Melb quarter final and the Sydney semi, where ppl bought tickets before the tournament fully expecting to see Australia, but didn’t because we finished 2nd in our group.
Kangajets
Guest
Ben I’m not sure I agree with you. Any decent manager coach scout supporter knows how good Asian football is . A league clubs are not deliberately ignoring Asian players. It’s just to get the good quality players , it’s costs more wages then salary capped clubs can afford. Hence why the best asians are playing for clubs who can afford them .
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The basic tenet of your argument has some merit, Grob, however please note that in most of the poorer regions of Asia a footballer's salary is miniscule. As an example the best paid players in Cambodia receive far less than the minimum salary payable in Australia.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Most of our A-League coaches, back room staff and administrators had their formative years in an era where "Asians can't play football" was less opinion and more mantra. In the interim respect of Asian football has grudgingly arisen yet a concerted recruiting effort requires a stronger belief amongst a critical mass of decision makers within each club. That mass will come with generational change. Sadly that means waiting.
Nick Symonds
Guest
For anyone who thinks the A-League can't afford high quality talent from Asia the top 30 salaries in the J-League (2016) range from Yasuhito Endo on $1,481,280 p/a down to six players at equal #26 on $648,060 p/a. Nathan Burns was equal #24 at $694,350 p/a. http://nbakki.hatenablog.com/entry/Top_30_annual_salaries_of_J.League_players_in_2016 But no, we can't compete with China.
Nemesis
Guest
@Mr AFL It must be so frustrating for you that allegedly poor quality footballers, in allegedly tin pot impoverished nations, are able to pull a bigger pay packet each week than the world's best Aussie Rules super-athletes. Why is life so unfair to Ozzie Rools? Why can't the rest of the world see that Ozzie Rools is the best sport on the planet.. nay, in the galaxy?
Kangajets
Guest
Love the theatrical lines grob. Have you read everyone else saying the same thing as you It’s all about the money money money