Balestier Khalsa striker Kodai Tanaka no longer fixated on goal targets

SINGAPORE – Terrorising defences with aplomb, Kodai Tanaka registered 33 goals and 11 assists as he won the 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) title with Albirex Niigata in his debut campaign and was also crowned Player of the Year.

While he is still bulging the net with 20 goals in 26 SPL games for Balestier Khalsa this season, the Japanese is now reinventing himself as a more well-rounded player.

No longer is he fixated on scoring, as the 25-year-old, who had set himself a 40-goal target at the start of the term, believes that he has added another dimension to his game, adapting his playing style to create more chances for his teammates.

“I don’t want to set a goal target any more, I’m not that focused on scoring any more because I also assist a lot, create chances, which is also good for me,” said Tanaka, who has 14 assists, behind Geylang International’s Ryoya Taniguchi (18) and leader Maxime Lestienne (20) of the Lion City Sailors.

Contributing to his mindset shift was an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in March 2023, just two months after joining the Sailors, which left him sidelined for eight months. He then signed for Balestier in 2024.

“My body is different now, of course as I get older, my thinking changes,” Tanaka added.

“Now if a defender comes to me and I create the space for my team to score, that’s okay.

“Last time was different, when I only thought about scoring, now I have a different mentality, helping the team defensively and creating chances.”

While Tigers coach Peter de Roo would have liked Tanaka to score more this season, he also lauded the player for his off-the-ball contributions.

The Dutchman said: “Kodai is renowned for his goalscoring abilities, but also for his work rate off the ball. Without the ball, I think Kodai is phenomenal.”

Tanaka will face one of his closest friends in compatriot Shodai Yokoyama on April 24 (7.45pm) when Balestier take on Hougang United at Our Tampines Hub (OTH) bidding to equal last season’s fourth-placed finish – their highest since 1996, when they finished third.

OTH, which reopened on April 20 after seven months of improvement works, will host all SPL games from April 24 to May 4 in view of the potential closure of Sport Singapore facilities ahead of the May 3 General Election.

The Tigers are fifth in the nine-team SPL with 33 points, three behind fourth-placed Albirex, but with two games in hand. Hougang (30) are sixth, but have played a game more than Balestier.

Tanaka said of Yokoyama: “He’s the most dangerous player in Hougang because he controls the tempo.

“I’ve seen it many times, he passes to (Stjepan) Plazonja, who crosses to (Dejan) Racic to score.

“It’s the same pass, so we must press him, so that nothing will happen.

“I need to press him more and sometimes kick his legs,” he joked. “But that’s only in the game, after the game we are good friends again.”

While de Roo believes the Tigers are the best side among the teams fighting for fourth, he also feels that they have not shown that yet.

“I think what people forget is that we’re the only team that doesn’t have national team players, and we don’t have the same budget as the other teams,” he added.

“Lion City Sailors have $8 million more than we do, give me $8 million more, and we will be 10 points away from the rest too...

“I’m convinced of that.”

Ahead of their clash, Cheetahs interim coach Robert Eziakor said: “It will be a tough match as this will be our last encounter between us. We know their capabilities and we will focus on our performance.”

Albirex Niigata v Lion City Sailors (April 25, 7.45pm, Our Tampines Hub)

If the Sailors beat the White Swans and also win their game in hand against the Young Lions on April 30, they will likely need only five more points to ensure an unassailable lead over BG Tampines Rovers to clinch their second SPL title.

Geylang International v Brunei DPMM (April 29, 7.45pm, Our Tampines Hub)

DPMM will look to build on their 3-0 home win over Albirex on April 19. They will be coming up against a player whom they have declared an interest in signing – SPL top scorer Tomoyuki Doi, who has scored 42 of the Eagles’ 87 goals in 27 games.