Minus 48 Hours

And so, finally we're almost there: the weekend when J.League 2009 kick-off is behind the corner. That's the good news, but as usual life is not perfect, and here are the issues your truly one is struggling with: (1) I have ordered a Hikari Internet connection, which is the ultimate state-of-the-art... and takes some 6 weeks to be installed! Thus, I am here leeching from some of my neighbors (thanks) through an airport, but the quality of the connection is miserable. (2) I have received no season ticket yet, and at this point I am resigned: it will come later, and on Sunday I will have to line-up somewhere to get my first "coupon" -- meh! (3) Sunday it might rainy. Quite an anti-climax. (4) Nishino got injured badly, they talk about 6 months out. Poor little thing, worked so hard to recycle himself as a defender (he used to be a non-very-prolific forward) and now he's grounded for half-a-year... Oh well, all the best, and we're waiting for him to come back on a summer day, in August or September at the latest.

Sanga's game is on Sunday, but there are another seven games on tomorrow, plus all the J2 paraphernalia. My 10yo Akira is a little sick, so we're planning a LONG afternoon at home, with the kerosene stove on, tea, biscuits and a lot of Japanese Soccer--that is if wife and Alek (the 1yo) let us...

OK, I also believe here is the point where I must take the plunge and make my predictions for the season. OK, here we go: Champions, Nagoya Grampus; for the ACL Kashima Antlers and Shimizu S-Pulse. The letter will be the positive surprise, while for the negative I say Vissel Kobe or Gamba Osaka. Don't get me wrong, I hope I am mistaken here, but all three J1 Kansai teams have changed a lot, and at least one out of three is doomed to flop--and I can't say Sanga. Oh, by the way, where will Sanga finish? If no major injury strikes us, I'd say anywhere between 8th and 11th. I was actually surprised to see how the "experts" have rated our beloved team lowly. Nanami (former Jubilo, the irekae-sen guys) thinks we're going down! Well, I believe we were decent last year, and we added Diego, Toyoda, Lee... and Paulinho. That is four kick-ass players, let alone the awesome youngsters we brought aboard. I'd be VERY surprised if we don't improve significantly from 2008. But then again, it is Sanga, ne...