East Bengal unveil Japanese recruit Ryuji Sueoka in Kolkata

File Photo – East Bengal in action

Kolkata giants East Bengal Club unveiled their new Japanese recruit Ryuji Sueoka signed from Dempo SC at the clubs Kolkata Maidan tent. The 34-year old Ryuji Sueoka has been signed by the red-and-gold to replace Penn Orji, who has left for Mohammedan Sporting Club. East Bengal will be Sueoka’s fourth I-League club after playing to Mohun Bagan AC, Salgaocar FC and Dempo SC.

Sueoka made his intentions clear by saying that he has come back to Kolkata to win the I-League title with East Bengal Club under new coach Marcos Falopa just like with Salgaocar FC in 2011. Interestingly, in that team Sueoka played with striker Chidi Edeh and he hopes to recreate that understanding.

It was evident from his answers at the press conference that Sueoka was fed-up about questions comparing him with Nigerian Penn Orji, who had donned the red-and-gold jersey for three seasons and even though he praised Penn for his style and class, he made it clear that they were different players, who play different positions.

After a rather forgettable season with Dempo SC due to injuries and in which Sueoka was often used as an out-and-out striker, he hopes to play for a more deep position, ideally as an attacking midfielder behind the striker(s).

Sueoka ended by saying that India should try and follow the Japanese model rather than a European (English) model for development and success, with Japan having shown in the last 20 years that what can be achieved in football.