Kota Mizunuma may only be two games into his A-League journey, but the Newcastle Jets newcomer is already leaving a mark, as noted by head coach Rob Stanton and teammate Lachie Rose.
In a significant recruitment win, the Jets successfully enticed Japanese winger Mizunuma away from J1 League heavyweights Yokohama F. Marinos just two weeks ago.
This marks the 34-year-old midfielder’s first experience playing outside Japan, having previously celebrated a J1 League title victory with Kevin Muscat’s side in Yokohama.
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Already, Mizunuma is proving to be a key asset for the Jets, contributing to an 87th-minute equaliser that helped Newcastle secure a 2-2 draw against fierce rivals Central Coast Mariners in the F3 Derby last Saturday.
“Kota is incredibly professional,” remarked Jets forward Rose during an interview with Network 10. “There’s a reason he’s had a successful career in the J-League, and it shows.”
“His dedication both before and after training is exceptional. For the younger players, including myself, there’s so much to learn from him.”
“As we play together, we’re still figuring out each other’s strengths, but I feel we’re starting to develop a solid chemistry. If we continue this momentum, we want to finish the season with as many victories as possible.”
“I truly believe Kota can help us achieve that.”
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In the post-match press conference, Stanton mentioned: “Now that Kota has settled in over the past couple of weeks, he’s really starting to find his groove.”
“He adds an exciting new dimension to our attack in the wide areas. He had a shot blocked today, and his set pieces are outstanding.”
“I’m genuinely excited about what he brings to the team.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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