Although the Hong Kong Football League is not one of the top leagues in Asia, many foreign players see it as a platform for advancement, and with their outstanding performances, they are able to join the league at a higher level. When it comes to players who have made the jump from Hong Kong to Japan, some of them are as far away as the "King of Somersaults" Lee Ando, who joined Yokohama Marinos from the Hong Kong First Division, and some are as recent as Lean Gao, who used to play for R&F R&F R&F, joining Chiba Ichihara. The latest is this summer's transfer of Meizhou Hakka's Igor Sartori, who won the title of Mr. Football during his time with Hong Kong's Tai Po in 2018-19, to Kofu Fukubayashi of the Japanese Bundesliga.
Kofu Fung Lam wins title, team morale high
As Japanese soccer fans know, Kofu Furin unexpectedly beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the final of the Emperor's Cup as a Nippon B team to not only win the title, but also qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage. Igor Sartori said the team reveled in the victory as they knocked out several JCL teams along the way, and beating the powerful Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the final exceeded the players' expectations.
First goal, confidence boosted
After defeating Sanfrecce Hiroshima to win the championship, Kofu Kazuhayashi also won in the Japanese Second League, and Igor Sartori himself scored his first goal in the Japanese Second League. He said that it is not easy for him to fight for the opportunity to play in the team with fierce competition, and this rare opportunity and goal made him very happy and increased his self-confidence at the same time.
Join a new team and give it your all
Speaking about his thoughts on Kofu Fung Lam, Igor Satoni said that despite the team's average league record this season, the quality of the players is generally good and the competition is fierce. He was happy to adapt to the team quickly, and despite not having a regular position when he joined, he proved that his efforts were not in vain by giving his all in training and eventually getting a regular chance and scoring towards the end of the league.
Returning to Japan after 10 years, the experience is very different.
The last time I played in Japan was ten years ago with Kashima Antlers. How does Igor Sartori feel differently about returning to Japan after ten years? He said that ten years ago he was a young player and had only played 2 to 3 matches, and at that time he was just in the mindset of learning. Nowadays, he has more experience in the game and needs to share his experience with his teammates to lead the team. He added that Kashima Antlers is a top club in Japan and the level of players is naturally higher, and even though he doesn't have many chances to play in Kofu Kazuhayashi, his role in the team is more important than when he was in Kashima Antlers.
Epidemic prompts him to join Kofu Fungurin
After a successful stint with Tai Po, Igor Sartori first moved to Fortune R&F before joining Meizhou Hakka in the Central League. His career in China seemed to be going well, so why did he suddenly switch to the Japanese B after half a season? He says that due to the epidemic, the Chinese League One tournament adopted a match system and closed-loop management for all participating teams, which forced him to be separated from his pregnant wife. It was only eight months after his wife gave birth that he saw his child for the first time, which he regretted. In order to be with his family and regain his freedom as a player, he decided to leave China and return to Brazil to wait for a new contract. Eventually, he got an offer from Kofu Furusato this summer, and with the Japanese league not having quarantine measures for players, he was able to move to Japan with his family.
Nostalgic about playing for Tai Po, keeps in touch with old teammates
Igor Sartori first came to Hong Kong to play for Tai Po in the 2017-2018 season and helped the team win the Hong Kong Premier League title the following season, and he himself was voted Hong Kong Footballer of the Season. He said he misses his time in Tai Po and always follows the team's news. He also said that he keeps in touch with his Brazilian compatriot Lima, who has returned to play for Tai Po, as well as Li Heng Hui, who was an assistant coach back then and has been promoted to the position of head coach this season, so it seems that his relationship with Tai Po is still very good.
Son of a famous general, shares his father's recent news
As many fans know, Igorsattoni's father, Aisendo, was also a famous player in the Japanese Professional League, playing for Kashima Antlers, Kawasaki Yomiuri and Hokkaido Sapporo Gonzaga. Igorsattoni said that his father in Brazil is doing well and often asks how he is doing in Japan. He enjoys keeping in touch with his father as it keeps him motivated to keep improving. He added that although his father has a certain status in Japanese football, his style of play is completely different from his father's and that he has his own unique path in his soccer career, and that the only thing he can do is to continue to work hard and prove that he can also stand on his own.
What are your goals for the new season as you turn 30?
Igor Sartori will celebrate his 30th birthday in January next year, so what is his outlook on his career? He said that he believes he can still play professional soccer for a few more years, and his short-term goal is to do his best to perform and try to find out where he will be next season as soon as possible. Since he has only signed a half-season contract with Kofu-Fenglin, his next season is still unknown.
Words to Hong Kong fans
At the end of the interview, Igor Sartori said that during his time playing for the Hong Kong Premier League club, he won a lot of honors and applause for the team, which was the peak of his soccer career. For this, he is very grateful to the Hong Kong fans for supporting him in the past. He said that although he is now playing in Japan, he hopes that the Hong Kong fans can continue to support him, and if he has the opportunity to return to play in the Hong Kong Premier League, he hopes that he can continue to receive the enthusiastic support from the Hong Kong fans as he did in the past.
This week's JLF live streaming schedule:
October 29th, 2:00 pm: Yokohama Marinos vs. Urawa Red Diamonds Cable TV 601/661
October 29th, 2:00 PM Kawasaki Frontale vs. Kobe Victory FC Cable TV 602/662
October 29, 2:00 p.m. Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. Sapporo Gonzado, Hokkaido Cable 604/664
October 29, 2:00 p.m. Kyoto Immortals vs. Osaka Sakura Cable TV 605/665
