Balestier’s Kodai Tanaka stronger after ACL injury, eyes Singapore Premier League Golden Boot

SINGAPORE – For weeks after his injury setback, there were tears every night for Kodai Tanaka.

The 2022 Singapore Premier League (SPL) Player of the Year with Albirex Niigata had just earned a dream move to Lion City Sailors in 2023 and continued where he left off, initially.

But his world came crashing down in March 2023, when he found out after scoring three goals in as many matches that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. 

The Japanese striker was forced to watch from the sidelines for eight months. The rehabilitation process was not his biggest challenge, the psychological one was. After all, he recorded 33 goals and 11 assists in the 2022 SPL season, and was set to extend his scoring run.

But Tanaka, 24, has made a remarkable comeback this campaign after joining Balestier Khalsa at the start of the year, notching 14 goals and four assists in 10 appearances.

He is just behind Geylang International’s Tomoyuki Doi, who leads the SPL scoring charts with 18.

Describing the recovery journey as “very difficult”, Tanaka told The Sunday Times: “I lived alone and whenever I went home, I felt lonely and couldn’t forget about this injury.

“There was too much overthinking. I thought about everything, like how I cannot come back from something like this, how it’ll be very hard.

“I cried every night. I felt I couldn’t do much at the training centre.”

To take his mind off the injury, his Singaporean friends called him frequently, avoiding the topic of football and talking about their personal lives instead.

His family back in Japan also checked in with him every day, and the support he received allowed him to dispel his initial thought of quitting the sport.

Tanaka also found a form of escape in racing game Mario Kart. “I played for three to four hours every day so I didn’t think about football,” he said with a laugh.

He eventually returned to competitive action for the Sailors in November 2023 and is fit and firing again, adding: “Now, I’m much better and becoming stronger, and I’m happy I can contribute to my team.”

Ahead of the Tigers’ clash against league leaders BG Tampines Rovers at Bishan Stadium on Aug 11, he believes he can do better despite his impressive start.

Coach Peter de Roo agrees, saying: “He’s been very important, though there’s still room for improvement.”

The 54-year-old Dutchman explained that Tanaka has lived up to his expectations, with his aggression and energy key to the team’s success.

Adding that they signed Tanaka because of his “motivation and attitude”, de Roo said: “He wanted to prove something and he had the right drive.”

Balestier and Tampines have both scored in all their matches this season, and Stags coach Gavin Lee has to be wary of Tanaka and company.

Lee said: “Doing well in this game (must) once again be a collective effort.”

The clash will also hold special meaning for Tanaka. While he won the highest individual accolade in the 2022 SPL season, he lost out on the Golden Boot award to Tampines striker Boris Kopitovic.

“I want to get the Golden Boot this season,” Tanaka declared. “Last year at Sailors, I said I wanted 40 goals but I got injured. Now, my target is 40 again.”

Meanwhile, on Aug 10, Geylang bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Hougang United eight days earlier with a 3-0 win over the Young Lions at Jalan Besar Stadium. Doi struck twice while Vincent Bezecourt added the other.

At the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Brunei DPMM played out a 0-0 draw – the first this season – against Albirex Niigata.

Hougang v Tanjong Pagar (Aug 11, 6pm, Jalan Besar)

The sixth-placed Cheetahs showed spiritedness in their season’s second victory against Geylang. If they display teamwork again, they can pick up another win against the out-of-form Jaguars.