|
Sayonara
Japanese coach determined to quit
Posted: Saturday June 27, 1998 07:48 PM
| |
Japan's coach Takeshi Okada said he did not have a single moment of satisfaction during the World Cup (AP) |
AIX-LES-BAINS, France (AP) --
Coach Takeshi Okada is determined to call it quits after ending Japan's first
World Cup with no wins. But Japan's soccer federation wants him to stay on
for 2002.
"Mr. Okada has excellent analytical skills, a logical approach to the
game and the ability to bring the team together," Japan Football
Association technical committee chairman Kuniya Daini said Saturday. "We do
not believe we made a mistake choosing Mr. Okada as coach."
Taking over as coach last October when chances for getting to the World
Cup looked dismal, Okada led Japan to a dramatic turnaround to its first
ever World Cup.
But the 41-year-old coach, who has been hinting for days he would step
down, announced his decision after Friday's final game, a 2-1 loss to Jamaica.
Okada said he took his job too seriously not to resign.
"If I couldn't produce results and I take the easy way out, I don't
think I can go on believing in myself," he told reporters.
Although Okada said he did not have a single moment of satisfaction at
the World Cup, he also said he had no regrets.
"It may be millions of years since the Earth was born, a lifetime may
be 80 years and a game is only 90 minutes," he said. "But we have to deal
with each moment and give it everything."
Midfielder Takashi Hirano said he still respected Okada.
"He brought us here. He changed history. So he's great. He's a
professional so he has to quit," Hirano said.
Daini, the soccer official, defended Okada by saying that expecting a
win at the first World Cup was too much, given that Japan still lacks
strong defense, quick switches to offense, long passes as well as the
finishing touches needed to score.
"These are the longtime problems for the Japanese team," Daini said.
But Okada and the players said they should have won, especially against
fellow newcomer Jamaica.
"We had many chances," said captain Masami Ihara. "I learned a lot,
although I feel many problems remain."
"Being able to play at the World Cup is a rare experience. And I'm only
18," said Shinji Ono, the only teen-ager on the squad. "I'm sure the other
teams weren't great from the start. They had to go through all this and
that's how they became great. So if we work at it, we'll get there, too."
The team, which departed from the resort town-training camp Saturday,
is scheduled to fly out of Paris on Sunday.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
| 
