Despite the Dominance of Saudi Teams, Kawasaki’s Hasebe Stands Firm in Championing East Asian Pride

Shigetoshi Hasebe, the coach of Kawasaki Frontale, is resolute in his mission to demonstrate that East Asian teams can compete effectively against their wealthier counterparts from Saudi Arabia. His side has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite.

In a thrilling encounter on Sunday, the J-League team defeated Qatar’s Al Sadd 3-2 after extra time, making it the first time they have reached the final four of the continental competition. They will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr this Wednesday.

Kawasaki Frontale stands as the sole representative from their region, while Saudi Pro League clubs Al Ahli and Al Hilal will contest the other semi-final following their victories over Buriram United from Thailand and South Korea’s Gwangju, respectively.

“Before our match, three teams from the eastern side were eliminated, so this was our last opportunity to change that negative perception, and I had faith that we could achieve a win,” Hasebe said.

“The outcome is influenced by the opponent; western teams are capable of beating us, but eastern clubs can triumph as well. Ultimately, it depends on the match-up.

“Now, there is only one club representing the east. It’s just us. I’m determined to alter that perception in our upcoming game.”

Kawasaki’s captain, Yasuto Wakizaka, found the back of the net just nine minutes into extra time, propelling Frontale into the semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history.

The achievement of progressing to the semi-finals after three prior quarter-final finishes marks an important milestone for the club’s coach, who took the reins from four-time J-League champion Toru Oniki last December.

“This is a new team and while some players have departed, their contributions paved the way for our success,” Hasebe noted. “As a fresh squad, we accomplished this. It holds significant meaning for the club.”

The 54-year-old, previously with Avispa Fukuoka, will now focus on the challenge posed by an Al Nassr team boasting stars like Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Jhon Duran, although Kawasaki will have one less day to prepare in comparison to their Saudi rivals.

“They possess remarkable speed and skill, along with prominent names, but that’s the nature of this competition,” he remarked regarding Wednesday’s opponents. “Time is certainly limited for the players, but we will ready ourselves for the next match.”