Coy Kyogo admits it’s been an amazing journey getting to top of the class in Scotland – as he reckons he wasn’t even the best player at his university.
Kyogo was 22 years-old, in the final year of his sports scholarship at the renowned Chuo campus in Tokyo and enduring more trials than Rumple of the Bailey. And there were no takers. Not in the J-League, anyway.
Kyogo came close to chucking it and becoming a PE teacher after constant rejection when second division outfit FC Gifu took a punt and six years later – via a priceless professional education with Barcelona legend Andreas Iniesta at Vissel Kobe – and he’s the head Bhoy at Celtic. The little frontman is pretty shy off the field but comes to life on it, to become the first Japanese player to score 30 goals in a season beyond their our country.
It’s fair to say his nomination for PFA Scotland’s player of the year wasn’t much of a surprise. But the 28-year-old doesn’t take his incredible path from student to master for granted.
Kyogo said: “Was I the best player at university? Not at all. I have experienced a lot of things and through this experience I have learned a lot and met a lot of people and that brings me to where I am right now. It was all worth it. I have a career and hopefully I can enjoy the rest of it as well.”
Kyogo admitted he got a kick out being listed among Scotland’s best – but he would rather share the love. He said: “I’m very happy because there are a lot of good players in this league. Being recognised as a good player is a big honour, as I’ve said before, but still I need to improve some parts of my game to be a better footballer. So I have to work hard.
“I wish all the players could be nominated but it’s only one person who gets the award. I’m happy for that. This is because of all my colleagues’ support so I’m happy for them as well.”
Like all lethal strikers, Kyogo has been thrilled to plunder this season but he’s also chewed up by the ones that got away.
He may have become the first Celtic since Moussa Dembele to hit 30 for the campaign but he reckons he should have notched more.
Kyogo is still learning on the job and said: “Yes, definitely. My first was the 20 goals because that’s what I got last season and then after that 25 and then 30. So the number increased. It’s always a situation either when I’ve scored or failed or even before in the build up, as a footballer and a human being, all the time I want to improve.”
Kyogo is out for more but he’s achieved top marks for his performances so far this term. Favourite goal? The chip against St Mirren. Best atmospheres? Easy, the Old Firm derbies.
It’s been some ride and there’s more to come as he said: “There have been a lot of good games and tough games. But in general, as the manager mentioned, we wanted to try and achieve more than last season by winning the cup and the league. Now we are doing well compared with last season.
“The goals are because of everyone’s support and the fact they are running to get the ball and are trying to supply me with it where I want to score the goals. It’s a credit to them. At the same time, I didn’t manage to score from some situations which I should have scored from. But overall I’m very happy.”
Sunday’s title celebration outside Celtic Park was another highlight, with Kyogo front and centre of the party.
The hitman is a firm fans’ favourite and he said: “It was just fantastic!
“Our job is to see the supporters smiles. That is what we play the game for and that’s why we want the win. We want to see the supporters with smiles on their faces is great to see all the time and recently we can dance together and that is uniting us and I am very happy about that. There are good players and famous players so I don’t agree (I am the favourite) but I am happy to be one of them.”
Hoops punters hope their hero hangs around long term and it doesn’t sound like Kyogo is any hurry to continue his journey elsewhere.
When asked about transfer speculation, he said: “I’m very pleased to be recognised like that. I think that is good but I am just focusing on the games that are left, because we still have the Cup Final to play so I’m just focusing on where I am and I’m not thinking about the future.”
There is the trip home to look forward to this summer, with Celts on tour in Japan and South Korea. He said: “I think it will be a warm welcome. I am looking forward to it. The gaffer used to manage there and we have five Japanese players so, obviously, we are looking forward to it. Hopefully the supporters will enjoy it.”
Hoops punters have certainly enjoyed Old Firm games this season and Kyogo has certainly passed the derby test with flying colours.
It took him a while to get going against Rangers but he’s bagged five goals in the last four encounters and is now the man Gers fear the most. There’s another one up on Saturday and while it might be a dead rubber, the frontman is out for more fun.
He said: “I feel that from the atmosphere in the stadium. It is totally different from the other games because it is a derby. I think as a team and as individuals we have more confidence compared to the beginning.”
