He said: I am Proud to Join Al Ain.. Tsukasa Shiotani: Omar Abdul Rahman is Known by All Japanese Players
Al Ain’s new player, Tsukasa Shiotani, expressed his immense pleasure for joining the “Boss” squad stressing his keenness to do all his best to achieve the team’s desired goals in the coming period. He underscored the fact that playing to a team as big as Al Ain is the ambition of a number of players in Asia. He added that he is well aware of the precious opportunity he got to be a player in one of the best teams in Asia next season.
In the press conference, Shiotani stated that Al Ain has a weighty reputation in Asia as one of the teams winning the title of the AFC Champions League. Indeed, Al Ain is constantly competing in the Champions League over the past years and the last one was last season when the stars of the Club were able to reach the final match playing against South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He further explained, “When I received the offer from Al Ain FC, I did not hesitate to accept it for the reasons I stated before that Al Ain FC enjoys a great reputation in Asia and such an offer does not come twice.”
The Japanese defender promised to do whatever it takes to earn his position in the starting line-up of Croatian Head Coach, Zoran Mamic. He stated, “Al Ain has a compelling challenge in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals where the team will play an important match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. I am sure I will be part of Al Ain Squad and be able to participate in the two matches.”
Commenting on a question on whether he knows the players of Al Ain, he said, “I believe that there is no player in Japan who does not know Al Ain FC Captain, Omar Abdul Rahman. Personally, I am so happy to play together with “Asia’s Best Player”. I do hope to achieve the best results with the team that meet the aspirations of the team’s grassroots, as well as to be up to the level of expectation of the Head Coach, my teammates and all members of Al Ain FC.”
Tsukasa Shiotani … The Samurai Warrior
Tsukasa Shiotani, 28 years old, was born in Komatsushima, Tokushima on December 5, 1988. Shiotani began his football career by playing for Kokushikan University Team 2007- 2010. In 2011, he received an offer from Japan’s Mito Hollyhock playing in Football League Two before joining Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima playing in the J1 League in 2012. He played for Sanfrecce Hiroshima five years where accomplished his most important achievements in his career winning the title of the J1- League Championship three times “2012-2013-2016”, in addition to the title of the Super Cup three times “2013-2014-2016”.
The Best Player
Shiotani is one of the most prominent players in Japan’s Football League winning Japan’s Football Federation Award granted for the top 11 players in every season three times, 2014-2015-2016. He enjoys strong physique, excellent level of physical fitness, superb technical abilities and a high fighting spirit. His performance is featured by being fast, focused and accurate passes and clearing the balls from competitors.
Being one of the stars of Hiroshima FC during J1-League, the Head Coach of the Olympic National Team selected him to be part of his squad in Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games 2016. This made Shiotani one of only two players over 23 years old participating with the “Samurai” squad in Rio de Janeiro.
Personal CV:
Name: Tsukasa Shiotani
Date of Birth: 05/12/1988
Position: Defensive midfielder/ Centre-back
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 80 kg
