Australia coach Holger Osieck, speaking before the Australia-Japan match on Tuesday summed up the impressive growth of Japanese soccer this way in a Kyodo News article:
“The new generation is a free generation, an open-minded generation. They are not afraid anymore, whereas a number of years ago people were reserved and frightened of foreigners but that has changed drastically.”
“Their different mind-set reflects in the performance on the field. They are a different generation of players playing in the top teams in Europe and I think that is the significant difference.”
“It’s a great potential in this team, I have to admit. I mean, look at the quality.”
The JBL's one-import rule benefits nobody. The bj-league new two-import rule for the first and third quarters is, an almost decent concept for an inrasquad scrimmage, and nothing else.
Actual fear of foreigners isn't what I believe is happening here, but actual fear of progress.
Putting as many Japanese players and coaches in the best possible position to challenge for quality jobs in the European leagues, the NBA Development League and the NBA should be the top priority, which the Japanese Football Association has figured out.