Very moving sayonaras at Banpaku yesterday for Bando and Matsuyo, but the most moving for me was JEF’s ex-Gamba and Cerezo defender Saito Daisuke who was invited to the microphone after Matsuyo had done his bit and Saito – watched by both complete squads made a goodbye speech praising his time at Gamba, etc. and thanking JEF (of course)… the best part was the Gamba fans started chanting his name and then the JEF fans joined in, echoing the same chant, but not in unison, more of an echo… Gamba fans – Daisuke , JEF fans – Daisuke, etc. very nice touch that brought a lump to my throat and a tear to me eye … I have known Saito since way back at Gamba, and call him now and again to chat about stuff – his English is excellent, actually, not that that’s relevant – so it was nicely coincidental that his last game was at Banpaku after all these years.Matsuyo emphasised that he was still genki, so I guess he is hoping for offers from another team …. Saito retired – and will be a coach of Junior Youth or Youth at JEF…. Bando emphasised, in his own enthusiastic and amusing way with the microphone in front of the Gamba end – that he was NOT retiring! He has had an offer from Cerezo, though not yet officially announced, as well as some other “lesser” offers …. we’ll see where he ends up, but whoever gets him, they’ll be getting a player that gives – and demands -100%. Good luck to him.