PLATINUM Stars have confirmed the signing of the first Japanese soccer player to feature in South Africa's top flight.
PLATINUM Stars have confirmed the signing of the first Japanese soccer player to feature in South Africa's top flight.
Striker Norikazu Murakami was impressive during the Charity Spectacular on Saturday and his signing was confirmed yesterday by coach Steve Komphela.
Murakami arrived in the country a fortnight ago and immediately impressed Komphela, the former Bafana Bafana skipper and national Under-23 coach.
"I have really been impressed by him," he said.
"He has played in the J-League in Japan and played in Brazil. He really is a good player and I wanted to sign him as I know he will be an asset to Stars."
The 27-year-old striker has signed a two-year deal with the Tycoons from Home United in Singapore.
Murakami will give Komphela options in the front line.
He gave a foretaste of what's to come during the Telkom Charity Cup final against Orlando Pirates when he opened the scoring at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Saturday.
That clash ended 1-all afterfull-time, Pirates winning 4-2 on penalties.
Murakami is no stranger to success on the football field.
Before he joined Home United he played for Singapore Armed Forces, who won consecutive league and cup doubles in 2007 and 2008.
Managing director of Stars Ian Riddick says the capture of Murakami shows the club's ambition this season. "I think it shows we will cast our net far and wide to bring in the right players for the coach," he said.
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PLATINUM Stars have confirmed the signing of the first Japanese soccer player to feature in South Africa's top flight.
PLATINUM Stars have confirmed the signing of the first Japanese soccer player to feature in South Africa's top flight.
Striker Norikazu Murakami was impressive during the Charity Spectacular on Saturday and his signing was confirmed yesterday by coach Steve Komphela.
Murakami arrived in the country a fortnight ago and immediately impressed Komphela, the former Bafana Bafana skipper and national Under-23 coach.
"I have really been impressed by him," he said.
"He has played in the J-League in Japan and played in Brazil. He really is a good player and I wanted to sign him as I know he will be an asset to Stars."
The 27-year-old striker has signed a two-year deal with the Tycoons from Home United in Singapore.
Murakami will give Komphela options in the front line.
He gave a foretaste of what's to come during the Telkom Charity Cup final against Orlando Pirates when he opened the scoring at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Saturday.
That clash ended 1-all afterfull-time, Pirates winning 4-2 on penalties.
Murakami is no stranger to success on the football field.
Before he joined Home United he played for Singapore Armed Forces, who won consecutive league and cup doubles in 2007 and 2008.
Managing director of Stars Ian Riddick says the capture of Murakami shows the club's ambition this season. "I think it shows we will cast our net far and wide to bring in the right players for the coach," he said.
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