Michael Olunga's Kashiwa resume contact training
Kashiwa Reysol's Michael Olunga in action against FC Tokyo during their Japanese League match at the Ajinomoto stadium on October 28, 2020.
What you need to know:
- According to the club’s website, Brazilian coach Nelsinho was on site on Wednesday giving instructions to players as they went about their normal training, including contact play
- Kashiwa’s last match before the coronavirus-enforced break was against Shimizu S-Pulse on October 31 at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium which ended goalless
- The 26-year-old Kenyan international striker has been in fine form this season having netted 24 times in all competitions (23 in the league)
Michael Olunga’s Kashiwa Reysol resumed normal training on Wednesday with focus on their upcoming J1 league match against Sagan Tosu on Saturday.
Kashiwa are winless in their last five matches against Sagan. They head into the return leg after completing a mandatory 10 days of quarantine following 16 positive Covi-19 cases in their camp.
According to the club’s website, Brazilian coach Nelsinho was on site on Wednesday giving instructions to players as they went about their normal training, including contact play.
The 70-year-old was among the first positive cases to be confirmed at Kashiwa on November 2 but has since recovered.
"The days were so tough. I spent 10 days in the isolation ward of the hospital, and the medical staff made it very good. Thank you for your support and patience," said Nelsinho.
After Kashiwa’s first training session on Wednesday, captain Hidekazu Otani said:
“I'm glad I was able to resume the practice, but I have to tighten my mind again. I want to deliver the victory while making the best possible preparations."
Kashiwa’s last match before the coronavirus-enforced break was against Shimizu S-Pulse on October 31 at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium which ended goalless.
Nelsinho’s men’s last beat Sagan 2-1 in April 2018 in Tosu. Kashiwa last tasted success at home against Sagan in September 2014, a 2-0 win.
That string of poor results against Sagan could change on Saturday as Kashiwa boasts the league’s leading scorer Olunga in their ranks. The 26-year-old Kenyan international striker has been in fine form this season having netted 24 times in all competitions (23 in the league).
More tests
Olunga was left out of match-day squad in their last outing against Shimizu. His last contribution on the pitch was providing two assists for Brazilian Cristiano when Kashiwa hit hosts FC Tokyo 3-1 on October 28.
Kashiwa has had another round of coronavirus testing on Thursday. Nelsinho says the outcome of the results will determine who will be picked for the match.
"There are 20 players who are ready to fight for points against Sagan Tosu on Saturday. However, the result of the PCR test conducted in the J League this morning will be a matter of course," said Nelsinho.
In the first leg on September 13, Olunga was on target as Kashiwa threw away the lead in their 2-1 loss against Sagan.
After facing 15th-placed Sagan, Kashiwa will face Kashima on November 25 and play rearranged matches against bottom-placed Vegalta Sendai on December 1 and Oita Trinita on December 9 which were originally scheduled for November 3 and November 14, but were postponed due to the virus.
Kashiwa will close the season with matches against Cerezo Osaka (December 12), Hiroshima (December 16) and leaders Kawasaki Frontale (December 19).
Levain Cup final between Kashiwa and FC Tokyo was also moved from November 7 to January 4, 2021.
