Sanfrecce Hiroshima manager Hiroshi Jofuku was not afraid to be stern with striker Teerasil Dangda after his memorable J.League debut on Saturday in the team’s 1-0 opening day win over Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
The Thai star became the first of his countrymen to score in the J1 League, beating out Consadole Sapporo’s Chanathip Songkrasin and Vissel Kobe’s Theerathon Bunmathan when he rose in the 28th minute to head in Yoshifumi Kashiwa’s cross for the only goal of the match.
But despite making an impressive introduction just three weeks after joining the side, manager Hiroshi Jofuku made it clear after the match that he expects even more from his new charge.
“If you consider (Teerasil’s) potential he’s capable of doing much more and I’d be concerned if he doesn’t,” Jofuku told reporters. “Even strikers need to work hard on both attacking and defending. In the J.League momentum on the front line is very important in order to carry the match over both halves, and I want to see him develop in that respect.
“But in addition to scoring he started several counterattacks and I think he did very well for his first match.”
Chanathip had plenty of praise for his fellow countryman, telling Doshin Sports “it’s no surprise as he’s Thailand’s number one striker. I’m glad I could play against him but he scored a (J.League) goal before I did! I was a bit taken aback, but we have to look ahead to our next match.”
