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Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Tributes pour in for legendary Japan striker hailed by Pele
Kunishige Kamamoto (centre) was the top scorer at the 1968 Olympics with seven goals. (Jiji Press/AFP pic) TOKYO : Japanese football has paid tribute to Kunishige Kamamoto after the country's most prolific striker died aged 81. Kamamoto, who scored 75 goals in 76 appearances for Japan, died yesterday of pneumonia. 'Mr Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker,' Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in a statement. The Kyoto native is best remembered for his exploits at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where he was the top scorer with seven goals and led Japan to the bronze medal. With stamina, agility and physical strength, Kamamoto was first called up to the national squad aged 19. In 1967 he joined Yanmar Diesel, now Cerezo Osaka, plundering 202 goals in 251 games until his retirement in 1984. During the final years of his playing career he also worked as Yanmar's manager. After football Kamamoto shifted to politics, becoming an upper house lawmaker in 1995. He also worked on Japan's bid to host the 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted with South Korea. Current Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Kamamoto 'gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage', according to Kyodo News. 'I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr Kamamoto to emerge,' he added. Kazuyoshi Miura, the former Japan international forward who is still playing aged 58, said Brazilian legend Pele had called Kamamoto 'a great striker'. Pele played in Kamamoto's retirement match, Kyodo said. 'When I heard King Pele call him a 'great striker', I was really proud as a Japanese, and I can still remember that now,' said Miura, who is second in Japan's list of all-time scorers.
Asahi Shimbun
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Asahi Shimbun
SOCCER/ Japan pioneering star Kunishige Kamamoto dies
Kunishige Kamamoto, a Japanese soccer trailblazer who became the top scorer at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and led Japan to its historic bronze medal finish, died of pneumonia on Aug. 10. He was 81. A native of Kyoto, Kamamoto attended Yamashiro High School and Waseda University before making his debut for the Japan national team at the age of 19 in 1964. That year, he competed in the Tokyo Olympics. Kamamoto's physical strength and powerful shots made him a formidable forward. At the 1968 Olympics, he led all players with seven goals and helped Japan secure its first--and still only--Olympic medal in men's football. His legacy with the national team remains unmatched. By the time he retired from international play in 1977, Kamamoto had scored 75 goals in official international matches, a national record for men that still stands. Domestically, he played for Yanmar Diesel, a precursor to today's Cerezo Osaka, scoring 202 goals in the Japan Soccer League before retiring in 1984. He was the league's top scorer seven times. After hanging up his cleats, Kamamoto continued to shape Japanese football. He served as the first manager of club Gamba Osaka in the early 1990s and played a key role in Japan's successful bid to co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea. He also served as a vice president of the Japan Football Association. In recognition of his contributions to the country's football community, he was inducted into the JFA Hall of Fame in 2005. Kamamoto also entered politics, being elected to the Upper House in 1995 and serving one term until 2001.
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Tributes to legendary Japan striker hailed by Pele
Kamamoto, who scored 75 goals in 76 appearances for Japan, died on Sunday of pneumonia. "Mr. Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker," Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in a statement. The Kyoto native is best remembered for his exploits at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where he was the top scorer with seven goals and led Japan to the bronze medal. With stamina, agility and physical strength, Kamamoto was first called up to the national squad aged 19. In 1967 he joined Yanmar Diesel, now Cerezo Osaka, plundering 202 goals in 251 games until his retirement in 1984. During the final years of his playing career he also worked as Yanmar's manager. After football Kamamoto shifted to politics, becoming an upper house lawmaker in 1995. He also worked on Japan's bid to host the 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted with South Korea. Current Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Kamamoto "gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage", according to Kyodo News. "I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr. Kamamoto to emerge," he added. Kazuyoshi Miura, the former Japan international forward who is still playing aged 58, said Brazilian legend Pele had called Kamamoto "a great striker". Pele played in Kamamoto's retirement match, Kyodo said. "When I heard King Pele call him a 'great striker,' I was really proud as a Japanese, and I can still remember that now," said Miura, who is second in Japan's list of all-time scorers.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Tributes to legendary Japan striker hailed by Pele
TOKYO: Japanese football has paid tribute to Kunishige Kamamoto after the country's most prolific striker died aged 81. Kamamoto, who scored 75 goals in 76 appearances for Japan, died on Sunday of pneumonia. "Mr. Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker," Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in a statement. The Kyoto native is best remembered for his exploits at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where he was the top scorer with seven goals and led Japan to the bronze medal. With stamina, agility and physical strength, Kamamoto was first called up to the national squad aged 19. In 1967 he joined Yanmar Diesel, now Cerezo Osaka, plundering 202 goals in 251 games until his retirement in 1984. During the final years of his playing career he also worked as Yanmar's manager. After football Kamamoto shifted to politics, becoming an upper house lawmaker in 1995. He also worked on Japan's bid to host the 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted with South Korea. Current Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Kamamoto "gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage", according to Kyodo News. "I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr. Kamamoto to emerge," he added. Kazuyoshi Miura, the former Japan international forward who is still playing aged 58, said Brazilian legend Pele had called Kamamoto "a great striker." Pele played in Kamamoto's retirement match, Kyodo said.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Tributes to legendary Japan striker hailed by Pele
TOKYO: Japanese football has paid tribute to Kunishige Kamamoto after the country's most prolific striker died aged 81. Kamamoto, who scored 75 goals in 76 appearances for Japan, died on Sunday of pneumonia. 'Mr. Kamamoto was truly an unparalleled striker,' Japan Football Association president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said in a statement. The Kyoto native is best remembered for his exploits at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, where he was the top scorer with seven goals and led Japan to the bronze medal. With stamina, agility and physical strength, Kamamoto was first called up to the national squad aged 19. In 1967 he joined Yanmar Diesel, now Cerezo Osaka, plundering 202 goals in 251 games until his retirement in 1984. During the final years of his playing career he also worked as Yanmar's manager. After football Kamamoto shifted to politics, becoming an upper house lawmaker in 1995. He also worked on Japan's bid to host the 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted with South Korea. Current Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said Kamamoto 'gave us a ray of hope that Japanese football can compete on the international stage', according to Kyodo News. 'I'm hoping for a player who could eventually eclipse Mr. Kamamoto to emerge,' he added. Kazuyoshi Miura, the former Japan international forward who is still playing aged 58, said Brazilian legend Pele had called Kamamoto 'a great striker'. Pele played in Kamamoto's retirement match, Kyodo said. 'When I heard King Pele call him a 'great striker,' I was really proud as a Japanese, and I can still remember that now,' said Miura, who is second in Japan's list of all-time scorers - AFP
