IKENWA NNABUOGOR chronicles a feat as Japan roll out another red carpet for Peter Utaka after he is crowned Goal King again…
Peter Utaka etched his name in history in Japanese football and a personal milestone achieved by emerging top scorer in the J-League 2 which wrapped up Sunday after a pulsating run of 42 league games.
‘Manpo’ though was the on the losing side for his Kyoto Sanga team, finished the season with 22 league goals to become the fourth ever player and the first ever African to win the top scorer’s award both in the Japanese top flight and the J-League 2.
The former KVC Westerlo striker became the record African top scorer and few in the world to emerge top scorer five times and in four countries.
He also equaled his season high 22 goals to emerge top scorer, same tally he achieved in the Belgian second division in the 2007/08 for Royal Antwerp.
Utaka’s rare record in Japan didn’t stop there: he led the scorers’ chart from match day 1 to the grand finale, thus becoming the first player to achieve this incredible feat in Japan.
His overall efforts had 20 of his 22 coming from the run of play, out of which 10 were achieved in the first half.
He scored only two from the penalty spot to cap a great season and became one of the most prolific strikers ever to come out of Africa.
It was a well deserving feat for the talented marksman who showed great consistency and having to play four games in a week in the 42-game schedule and in the cup games.
“I knew how to handle the pressure of playing lots of games in Japan,” Utaka told SCORENigeria.
“Hard work was also something that had me going because I knew what I wanted.
“Playing in Japan and in the marathon competition was not something that came easy.”
There wasn’t much of a stiff challenge for the goaledor’s award for ‘Manpo’ even in the face of going five games without finding the back of the net.
His 22nd goal came on November 25 and it was enough for him to race through without second top scorer Akira Disaro of Giravanz Kitakyushu, who finished on 18, troubling him.
“It’s not easy to score four goals in a game in Japan and I was confident my record was safe,” he assured.
“Disaro tried, I commend him for the fact that he was playing his second ever season as a player.
“Save for myself and a few strikers in Japan, it’s not early to score four goals in a game.
“Japanese football is fast and physical and scoring does not come easy.
“I thank the God Almighty for making this possible for me this time, maybe my Christmas came too early.
“This is one of my best Christmas and New Year celebrations, and I must thank God for this.”
‘Manpo’ is sadly one of the underrated strikers in Africa despite his intimidating records which may not be equaled in the near future.
Had he played regularly for Super Eagles with whom he only managed just seven appearances, Utaka would most probably have emerged top scorer in top leagues.
He would chase financial security to China and dumped England and Germany in a smart move that would keep his bank balance sheet bulging even after he would have retired.
Still firing at 36, ‘Manpo’ is not thinking of retirement yet, as he penned additional one-year contract at Kyoto Sanga.
Off the pitch, ‘Manpo’ is a smart investor and his newest line of business – clothing line – PU Clothing9- is making tremendous inroads into the ever thriving Japanese fashion industry.
The former OB Odense striker is only living what his grandmother foretold – his late grandmother saw a great crowd paying fees to watch and applaud him and it came to pass as millions of fans paid their way to watch him emerge top score a record five times across four countries and in two continents.
