by @FRsoccerFraser
As expected following promotion Shonan Bellmare have made wholesale changes, welcoming in 12 new players and parting with 18 as they hope to re-establish themselves in J1.
The most notable departures are two of their main goalscorers – powerful Brazilian striker Wellington netted 20 times for them last season and returns to his homeland to join Ponte Preta, while Kosuke Taketomi’s nine goal haul from midfield was enough to gain the interest of Kashiwa Reysol.
Experienced centre back Andre Bahia has signed from Brazil’s relegated Serie A side Botafogo and will look to form a strong defensive line along-side current players Wataru Endo and Yuto Misao, joined by former Urawa Reds stalwart Keisuke Tsuboi. Bellmare also welcome in South Koreans Lee Ho-Seung, a GK from Consadole Sapporo, and defensive midfielder Kim Jong-Pil (Tokyo Verdy), both of whom will need to fight for their place in the side.
Portuguese forward Bruno ‘Guima’ Guimaraes was set to bolster the attack, but medical checks confirmed knee cartilage damage, and the deal fell through. Bellmare instead add 19 year old Henrique ‘Alison’ Mira from Brazil’s Serie D side Sao Caetano. With Shuhei Otsuki sidelined since June with hamstring tendon trouble, the other forward option comes in the form of Yoshihito Fujita (Yokohama F•Marinos).
Twelve players have left from midfield alone, though most of them are fringe players loaned to lower leagues. Among those, though, were two regular starters – Masashi Kamekawa and Ken Iwao, who join Avispa Fukuoka and Mito HollyHock respectively. Andrew Kumagai ends his loan spell and returns to F•Marinos while Hirokazu Usami transfers to Montedio Yamagata.
Amongst the new arrivals is the familiar face of Kaoru Takayama, who re-joins Bellmare from Kashiwa Reysol, having left the club in 2013. He is accompanied in midfield by Naoki Yamada (Urawa Reds) and loanee Masataka Kani (Kawasaki Frontale).
Having wrapped up the J2 title with 43 days to spare, Cho Kwi-Jae will have had plenty of time to consider the challenge ahead they look to banish the memory of J1 relegations in 2010 and 2013. Managed by a former defender they will have great insight into stopping the likes of Muto, Usami and co., and if they can find a worthy replacement for Wellington’s number 9 shirt I can see them avoiding the drop. Predicted finish 12th-14th Overall.
Web site – www.bellmare.co.jp
Facebook – https://ja-jp.facebook.com/teambellmare
Twitter – @bellmare_staff
2015 Bellmare kit – like it?