
Japan's King Kazu wants more after first appearance of 40th season
The former international forward, who turned 58 in February, came on as a late substitute in Atletico Suzuka's 2-1 win over YSCC Yokohama in the fourth tier of the Japanese pyramid on Sunday.
The popular striker signed an 18-month loan deal with Suzuka last June but a leg injury sustained in January had kept him on the sidelines from the start of this Japan Football League season.
'I hope to play again showing my character,' Miura told Kyodo news agency after the match.
'I managed to play thanks to the support from everyone. I'm looking to stepping up a gear from here.'
Miura made his first two appearances for Santos in the 1986 Brazilian Championship, having headed alone to South America to pursue his football dream as a 15-year-old.
He returned to Japan as an established international to join Verdy Kawasaki and helped them win the first two J.League titles in 1993 and 1994. He scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan, the last of which came in 2000.
Miura, whose long club career has also included spells in Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal, still has a way to go to match Egyptian Ezzeldin Bahader's record of turning out for a professional team at the age of 74.
Given his commitment to the game, however, it might be foolish to write him off.
'When I was around 35 or 40, I did start saying to myself, 'I can't keep playing this way',' he told FIFA.com in April.
'Rather than giving any thought to quitting, it was more about pushing myself to give more. It's not so much that the word 'retire' isn't in my vocabulary, but more that I've never felt any desire to do it.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Be confident but not overconfident, James reminds Pearly-Thinaah
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach Datuk James Selvaraj has urged Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah to strike the right balance between confidence and composure at the World Championships in Paris later this month. The world No. 2 women's doubles have been handed a favourable draw, with a projected third-round meeting against Indonesia's world No. 14 Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, a pair they lead 2-1 in head-to-head meetings. In the quarter-finals, they could meet Japan's world No. 8 Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto, against whom they hold a 4-1 record — all four wins coming this year. A potential semi-final showdown awaits against either Japan's world No. 3 Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida or South Korea's world No. 5 Kim Hye Jeong-Kong Hee Yong. Matsuyama-Shida have a dominant 13-2 record against the Malaysians, but Pearly-Thinaah snapped a seven-match losing streak to the Japanese at the Japan Open last month. The Koreans, meanwhile, have beaten them in all three past encounters. "If the path is clear for them to go into the semi-final, then they have to play with confidence," said James. "They must be sure of their strokes, focus on the game, and win through until they reach the semi-final. They've beaten some of these pairs before, so they shouldn't have a problem. "But they must not be overconfident. Once you're overconfident, trouble will come your way. The draw is in their favour, so it's good for them. At least they've got a chance to enter the semi-final — that's already very good. "Just play your normal game and enjoy it — that's the most important thing." In mixed doubles, world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai are on course for a third-round collision with world No. 16 Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, with the married pair holding a 1-0 head-to-head lead. If Soon Huat-Shevon get past their compatriots, China's world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin could be waiting in the quarter-finals. World No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei could face a tricky third-round encounter against Indonesia's world No. 11 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu, with a potential quarter-final clash against Hong Kong's world No. 5 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet for a place in the semis.

The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Aikido body marks 30th year with two-day meet in Putrajaya
Over 160 exponents from 10 countries attended the Putrajaya aikido meet featuring training sessions and demonstrations led by instructors. Malaysia Aikido Association (MAA) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a two‑day event bringing together over 160 practitioners from 10 countries. Held at a hotel in Putrajaya, the meet was attended by Dojo Cho Mitsuteru Ueshiba, the great‑grandson of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and head of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan. Participants were from Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, India and the US. The practice sessions and demonstrations were led by Ueshiba and senior international instructors. Ueshiba executing a technique during one of the demonstrations. These included Ikuhiro Kubota Shihan (8th Dan) of Nara Aikikai in Japan, Tony Smibert Shihan (8th Dan) of Aiki Kai Australia as well as Low Thian Seng (6th Dan) representing MAA. Participants experienced intensive training sessions and witnessed demonstrations led by the instructors. Insights into the physical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of aikido were also shared. The anniversary dinner held as part of the meet was attended by Japanese ambassador to Malaysia Shikata Noriyuki. MAA president Tony Yap Yew Wei said, in a statement, that the event was a tribute to the dedication and unity of the aikido community in Malaysia. 'Celebrating 30 years of aikido in Malaysia is not just a reflection of our journey but a tribute to the commitment, dedication, harmony and unity that aikido has brought to our lives,' he said. 'We are also deeply honoured to have Ueshiba with other renowned instructors and so many international friends joining us in this meaningful celebration.' Founded in the early 1990s, MAA has grown from a small community into a nationally recognised body registered under the Office of the Commissioner of Sports. It now oversees affiliated dojos in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Melaka, Penang, Sabah and Labuan. The association is also a full member of the International Aikido Federation and an associate member of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Japan boxing to adopt stricter safety rules after deaths of two fighters
Japanese Boxing Commission announces urgent safety reforms after deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa. TOKYO: Japanese boxing officials said on Tuesday (Aug 12) they would introduce urine tests, stricter rules on weight loss to prevent dehydration and improve medical cover at bouts following the deaths of two fighters. The new measures were adopted during an emergency meeting of the Japan Pro Boxing Association (JPBA), the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and gym owners on Tuesday. It was convened after super featherweight Shigetoshi Kotari and lightweight Hiromasa Urakawa, both 28, died days after brain surgery on injuries they sustained in separate bouts at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on Aug 2. The exact cause of the boxers' deaths is to be determined, but dehydration caused by cutting weight rapidly is regarded as a factor in making the brain more susceptible to bleeding, according to the World Boxing Association. The deaths were "really regrettable," said JPBA president Shoji Kobayashi. "We gathered today to establish a plan towards zero accidents." New measures to be implemented as soon as possible include urine tests for measuring dehydration and stricter rules on boxers' rapid weight loss, said Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, secretary-general of the JBC. Ambulances will also be required on site, even for non-world championship bouts. They will partner with hospitals that are equipped to perform emergency surgery for head and other injuries. There will also be new rules on how long before a fight sparring must be stopped during training, he said. Officials decided "to take all measures possible so we do not let the deaths of the two be in vain," Yasukochi added. Kotari collapsed and later died after going 12 rounds in an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title fight. The JBC had already announced all future OPBF title bouts would be reduced to 10 rounds. "That such an incident occurred involving top-level boxers means we may face arguments that boxing should be halted," admitted Toshiharu Kayama, former Japan welterweight champion and president of the boxing gym Ebisu K's Box. "We, the association and gyms, want to think and change" the way the sport is contested, Kayama said. An accident investigation committee will work to find out the cause of the boxers' deaths later this month and guidance on prevention measures will be updated, Yasukochi said. The JBC and JPBA will also hold a safety meeting later this month, which will include the organisations' doctors as well as the amateur boxing federation, he added. - AFP