Ben Somerford
Enigmatic Japanese striker Yoshito Okubo has just made a massive decision. Okubo has decided to swallow his pride and quit German Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg in order to return home and chase a national team spot ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Okubo, 27, only joined Wolfsburg in January, but after a difficult six-month stint in Germany, he has decided to return to his former J.League club Vissel Kobe.
On face value Okubo’s time at Wolfsburg seems a success. Having joined the club during the German winter break when the Wolves sat ninth in the table, before they stormed home in the second-half of the campaign, equaling a Bundesliga record ten consecutive wins on their way to their first ever league title.
But that view of events couldn’t be further from the truth as Okubo’s arrival had little influence on Wolfsburg’s title success, with the revelation of front pairing Edin Dzeko and Grafite providing the spark for their league charge and in doing so relegating the Japanese star to the bench.
In fact, Okubo made just 11 appearances for Wolfsburg, nine in the Bundesliga and two in the German DFB Pokal, and didn’t manage score once. Okubo failed to impress, won few opportunities and ended up watching Wolfsburg claim the title from the stands.
So, despite the fact the Wolves will be playing UEFA Champions League football next season, Okubo has made the tough decision to return to Japan after just six months in Germany.
Indeed, such a decision requires some strength, especially considering Okubo had a contract at the Volkswagen Arena until 2011. And he will be sure to cop plenty of criticism from pundits who may label his European journey as a complete failure.
But Okubo knows he needs to put pride aside because what’s important for him is a place at the World Cup next year with the Blue Samurai.
What makes the decision to return to Japan all the more difficult for Okubo, is the fact that this is the second time in his career that he has retreated from a stint in Europe. Three years ago, Okubo returned to the Land of the Rising Sun after an underwhelming two-year stay in Spain at Real Mallorca.
Upon his return to Japan then, Okubo fired in 27 goals in two seasons with Vissel Kobe before winning his opportunity at Wolfsburg. Perhaps that was Okubo’s mistake, joining a club with players already established in his position, but you can’t blame a man for trying.
Now though, Okubo is back in Japan and eager to play the regular football he was starved of at Wolfsburg.
“I have come back, hoping to restore my intuition for playing matches,” Okubo told reporters after he sealed his move back to Kobe in June.
The 27-year-old forward was part of Japan’s recent trio of World Cup qualifiers when the Blue Samurai became the first nation to confirm their place in South Africa next year with a 1-0 win in Uzbekistan. Japan backed that result up with a 1-1 draw with Qatar in Saitama before a 2-1 loss to Australia in Melbourne.
Okubo started the Uzbekistan game before being substituted just past the hour mark and wasn’t included in either of Japan’s other matches after qualification was sealed. Japanese management put his absence simply down to conditioning.
In simple terms, Okubo’s fitness wasn’t up to scratch so there’s no doubt his return to the J.League with Vissel Kobe will give him the regular football he needs to secure a spot in the Japanese national team. Nevertheless, Okubo claims playing for the Blue Samurai isn’t the only reason he has returned home.
The Fukuoka-born forward returns to the club who he enjoyed two seasons with in 2007 and 2008 and he remains ambitious about their future.
“I hope I can get some goals and assists in the J.League. I want to help the team move up the table and qualify for the Asian Champions League. I want to win a title at this club”, Okubo claimed.
Considering Vissel finished tenth last season and are currently languishing in 14th in the J.League table, Okubo’s claim is a bit rich. But he’s trying to win over the Kobe public, who didn’t totally warm to him in his previous free-scoring stint at the club.
Some Vissel fans labeled Okubo a show-off and believe at times he can be over the top. But they won’t deny his signing is a great acquisition. Indeed, on his J.League return, he received a hero’s welcome. He went on to score from the penalty spot in an entertaining 4-3 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
That result leaves Vissel just two points out of the relegation zone and avoiding the drop is their main concern this season, let alone chasing Champions League football. Vissel, like Okubo, have got plenty of catching up to do.
For Okubo, the difficult decision has been made and now it’s all about scoring goals for Vissel so he can secure not only their J.League status, but himself a seat on the plane to South Africa next year.
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