2009 Player Profiles - Forwards

9. Naoki Ishihara - 石原 直樹 - 14 Aug 1984 - 173cm / 61kg - NEW

Moved to Omiya in the winter after having spent the six years of his pro career to date at Shonan Bellmare, where he stepped up to the plate by averaging a goal every three games over the last two seasons. It's unclear whether or not Ishihara will get much starting time with Ardija and he may be used in a wider attacking role rather than as one of the central strikers.



10. Denis Marques - デニス・マルケス - 22 Feb 1981 - 183cm / 74kg - LOANED OUT TO FLAMENGO 30 JUN 09

Signed for the Squirrels from Atletico Paranaense during the 2007 mid-season break and has renewed for another year. But it remains to be seen if Denis will stay at Omiya until the end of 2009, given that he's back in Brazil after having failed to shake off the injury which in September cut short what was a good season. Probably the most skilful player at the club and he was still top scorer last year, but there are question marks over Denis's fitness and his ability to play within the more direct style favoured by coach Jang Wae Ryong.



13. Yoshihito Fujita - 藤田 祥史 - 13 Apr 1983 - 185cm / 75kg - NEW

Like Naoki Ishihara, Fujita is hoping to be able to make the step up having moved to Ardija from J2, in his case Sagan Tosu. The big forward was the second top scorer in the division last year and overall has a better record in front of goal than Ishihara, although they're very different types of player. Has done well in pre-season and a key decision facing Jang could see Fujita selected ahead of Klemen Lavric.



16. Klemen Lavric - クレメン ラフリッチ - 12 Jun 1981 - 190cm / 80kg - RELEASED FROM CONTRACT 27 JUL

Slovenian international who moved to Omiya from German outfit MSV Duisburg in mid-2008 and scored several key goals in the Squirrels' successful relegation battle. A replacement for the departed Pedro Junior, Lavric is definitely not the most mobile, but he's a big, strong centre forward and a handful for Japanese defenders. His highlight was a superb turn and volley that claimed three vital points in a pulsating match against Kawasaki Frontale.



16. Rafael - ラファエル - 27 May 1983 - 190cm / 80kg - JOINED 12 AUGUST 2009

Tall Brazilian striker who having played for three seasons in Turkey - 25 goals in 71 games - took Turkish nationality, in what was an unsuccessful attempt to get selected for the national team. Since leaving Manisaspor at the end of the 08/09 season has been back in Brazil at Tombense, where Dudu was also playing. Will this new partnership provide Ardija with the dangerous front pairing they so desperately need?



18. Dudu - ドゥドゥ - 02 Feb 1980 - 178cm / 76kg - NEW - SIGNED 06 JUL 2009

Experienced Brazilian signed mid-season following the departure of Denis Marques. Best known for having won the Korean title in 2006 with Songnam Ilhwan Chunma, before going on to be the K-League's top scorer with fifteen goals a couple of years later. The hope is that Jang Wae Ryong has brought him in as a better finisher than the other forwards on Omiya's books.



27. Masahiko Ichikawa - 市川 雅彦 - 17 Sep 1985 - 168cm / 68kg

Diminutive forward signed along with midfielder Kohei Tokita from Hosei University. Scored bags of goals in the reserves throughout 2008 but was barely given any chance in the first team; has continued to find the net in pre-season and must consider that he has played his way to the verge of being awarded a starting place. Could an Ichikawa / Yoshihito Fujita partnership produce the goals that Omiya supporters so desperately want to see?



30. Daisuke Watabe - 渡部 大輔 - 19 Apr 1989 - 170cm / 67kg

His second season as a member of the senior squad, after having been promoted from Omiya's successful 2007 youth team. A pre-season foot injury kept the unlucky Watabe out of contention for most of last year and he's therefore starting more or less form scratch this time round. Likely to be fighting with players such as Naoki Ishihara for a spot on the bench.

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