The finale of the Asian Footballer of the Year would be announced soon. The wonderful performances of the candidates in the past year would be played back on the big screen. Nagi's Heaven's Dragon and Upside Down Golden Hook were also included. Nagi cast a glance at Tim Yatt next to him , He saw him staring at the screen nervously, still praying in a low voice.
It seems that he didn't know that the final result had come out. Nagi couldn't help feeling a little emotional. To be honest, he had no interest in the Asian Footballer of the Year. He still valued the European Ballon d'Or when he plays in Europe. If he could get that honor one day how nice would it be.
When AFC Chairman Amosa announced that the winner of the 2000 Asian Footballer of the Year was Nagi, a trace of disappointment flashed in Tim Yatt's eyes, while Nagi stood up pretending to be surprised, and then talked with the two people next to him.
Nagi's acting skills were still terrible, but no one will pay attention at this time. With the congratulations of Tim Yat and Shunsuke Nakamura, he took the trophy from Amosa on stage and delivered a simple speech .
He thanked the AFC judges for their affirmation, thanked Genk's teammates and coaches, without whom he would not have achieved his current results, and finally thanked his mother and family.
After the awards ceremony, Nagi came to the interview area, and a large number of reporters rushed over. Among them, there were the most Japanese reporters. As the first Japanese to win the Asian Footballer of the Year, Nagi also broke the record for the youngest Asian Footballer of the Year. It was very worthy of in-depth coverage.
A reporter asked: "Mina, what are your expectations for Genk's results this season? Now that you are still at the top of the league's top scorer list, are you confident of winning the league's Golden Boot?"
Nagi replied: "Genk is currently at the top of the standings, we are bound to win the league championship, and the Europa League hopes to break Genk's best record in the past and break through the top 16."
"As for the Golden Boot, I think the competition is still very fierce. I can only try my best. Anderlecht's Jan Koller is also a top scorer. Compared with me, his number of goals is only four. To be honest, It's possible to catch up in one game."
There are also reporters who are concerned about whether Nagi will transfer during the winter break or summer, and whether he had a specific intention to go. Nagi made it clear that he would not transfer during the winter break. Regarding the situation in the summer, he prevaricated, saying that he had not thought about this issue.
A Japanese reporter wanted to ask Nagi how he feels about receiving this honor at such a young age. Nagi said to the live broadcast camera: "I am especially grateful to my mother. It was not easy for her to raise us three brothers and sisters alone. I want to give this award to her and tell her that my son is already ready. Now that he has made money to support her family, I hope she will stop working hard and enjoy life."
Nagi knew that his relatives must be watching him in front of the TV at this time, so he said this from the bottom of his heart.
Some reporters also wanted to report a big news, so they asked: "I heard that the Belgian Football Association once invited you to join the Belgian national team, but you have not played for the Japanese national team until now. Do you have any plans for this?"
Nagi retorted angrily: "I have never thought about this. I am Japanese. I will only play for the Japanese national team and will not play for any other country."
"I didn't play for the national team because I wasn't called up, there were no emails, no phone calls, but I was always ready."
Another reporter asked Nagi what he thinks of the current strength of the national team. Nagi just said that it is very strong, and everything else was prevaricated. The interview lasted for a long time before it ended, and Nagi was exhausted when he returned to the hotel.
He would rather fight with his opponents on the field than accept such a long interview. All reporters have the same temper and want to make a big news. Nagi had to fight wits and courage with them, and tried his best to answer well In case there is a mistake in the report.
Nagi took out his mobile phone, and there was a text message from his mother on it, asking him to call home after he was busy. There is no time difference between Malaysia and China. They must be waiting for Nagi's call at this time, so Nagi called back .
As he expected, his mother answered the phone very quickly, and both she and his sister praised Nagi for being handsome in a suit, and for answering reporters' questions very well. "You are winning honor for the country, right? The commentator on TV said that you are the first person in Japan to win an award."
The younger sister also joked at this time: "Now you are the dream lover of all the girls in our class, Mio a few days ago I saw her sneakily cut out your photo from the "Sports Weekly",
Mio's flushed face appeared in Nagi's mind, and he found it very interesting. His younger sister continued: "There are a lot of unrestrained girls abroad, Onii , you have to hold on, or there will be a scandal and it will not end well." Nagi laughed and scolded: "Your brother is neither bad nor foolish, and am I that kind of person? I just want to play well and earn a lot of money."
After chatting for a while, Nagi hung up the phone, thinking about the smiling faces of his relatives and fell asleep contentedly.
The news that Nagi won the Asian Footballer of the Year had caused a sensation in Japan, and more and more people wanted to see him play for their country, especially after hearing that the Belgian national team has invited him.
"Although Mina said that he would not play for other countries, I think many football powers would want him to join. Why is our Football Association still indifferent?" a netizen commented on the forum.
Nagi knew that the crux of the problem was that he was not in the Football Association system and was not subject to jurisdiction, so naturally he would not bring direct benefits, and he still had to occupy a precious spot.
He was not strong enough, and his influence was far from enough. If he could gain a firm foothold in the five major leagues, or even shine, then the Football Association will no longer be able to ignore him.
Early the next morning, Nagi went to Belgium to continue his league life. During the awarding period, in the fourth round of the UEFA Europa League group stage, Genk drew 0-0 with Brondby, and finally scored 10 points with 3 wins and 1 draw. With a score of 10 points, the team was the first to qualify, and Lokomotiv Moscow and Espanyol in the same group also qualify as expected, without being upset.
The results of the draw for the top 32 of the Europa League came out. Genk would play against Slavia Prague in the Czech Football League. Anderlecht lost the Champions League qualifying round and could only participate in the Europa League. The round of 32 would face Shakhtar Donetsk, while Club Brugge would face Roma.
Although Slavia Prague was a strong team in the Czech First Division, it is nothing compared to Shakhtar Donetsk and Roma. Therefore, the Belgian domestic media lamented that the matches of Anderlecht and Club Brugge were too much. They could only pin their hopes on Genk, so that the Ligue 1 team would not be wiped out in the top 32.
After returning to Genk, the weather has entered the early winter season, and the temperature is much lower than that in Kuala Lumpur. Nagi was tired and starts some recovery training under the guidance of Abel Le Goff. He was still in the stage of jet lag.
Tomorrow was the 16th round of the match, which was also the last round of the first half of the game. Genk would face the newly promoted Huasland Beveren at home. The head coach Aimee Antonis decided to substitute Nagib because his condition was really Relatively poor.
After the start of the game, although Genk controlled the situation on the field, They were unable to break through Beveren's gate for a long time. In the 51st minute of the second half, Beveren launched a defensive counterattack and forward Alberto Law scored a goal. Genk fell into an unfavorable situation!
The fans of the home team in the stands gradually became agitated. They called Nagi's name, and then they shouted louder and louder. The whole stadium echoed the shouts of "Mina, Mina".
The head coach Aimee Antonis did not expect that Nagi has reached this level in the hearts of the fans, because he never disappoints. It seems that as long as Nagi plays, all problems will be solved.
In the 78th minute, Nagi was substituted. There was deafening applause from the stands, and everyone shouted cheers, expecting Nagi to give them another miracle.
Nagi, who had just arrived, obviously hadn't recovered to his full state, and his running was not as sharp as before, but it was enough to make Beveren feel as if he was facing an enemy. When the focus was on Nagi, it was easy for others to create empty opportunities.
Five minutes after Nagi played, he received a pass from midfielder Beth in the front field, leaned on the defender and turned around, used his foot to smash the ball to avoid the fight, and then went to the penalty area.
This time, Nagi's start speed was not too fast, so Beveren's defender at the front of the penalty area blocked it. Nagi rubbed the ball with the outside of his right foot, and the ball formed a strange arc on the ground. Bypassing the blocked defensive player, it came to the foot of Jason Aldridge in the penalty area.
Aldridge did not waste this excellent opportunity, he calmly volleyed for Genk to equalize the score.
After scoring the goal, Aldridge flew to the stand area, followed by Nagi, both of them raised their hands to salute the fans, and other teammates surrounded them to celebrate this hard-won goal .
Although Genk finally drew with Beveren 1:1, they still have a two-point lead over Anderlecht in the league standings, beating it to become the half-time champion.
After the game, the players met to celebrate together, and even the head coach Aimee Antonis also participated in it. Everyone was noisy until late at night, and the winter break officially started the next day. The team would not gather until early January.
Nagi was lying alone in the dormitory, with many thoughts in his mind, and he had already spent two New Years abroad without knowing it. At the beginning, he was worried that he would be laid off and return to his country sadly, but now he was sad because he could not return to his country to reunite with his relatives. Human beings are really complicated creatures.
The next day, Nagi got up early as usual. He had already formed his own biological clock. After a simple wash, he started jogging along the park by the lake.
Nagi had already made detailed arrangements for this holiday. He would go to Ostend, West Flanders, the westernmost city in Belgium, for additional training with his personal trainer Abel Le Goff.
Ostend is one of the most important port cities in Belgium. The warm and humid air from the Atlantic Ocean makes it warm in winter and cool in summer, so Nagi chose this place.
At Christmas, there will be some large-scale concerts and exhibitions in Ostend. There are racetracks, four-season swimming pools, amusement piers, art museums and Ensul museums in the city, as well as large bathing beaches, spas, seaside Hotels and other tourist facilities can also have fun after training, so as not to feel bored.
Francisco Balmond has already helped Nagi find a private villa to rent in the area near the sea. It only costs 800 euros a month, and it is very convenient to have a full set of fitness equipment inside.
Beth and Chivu wrre going home to accompany their families, so this time Nagi can only train alone.
After the morning exercise, Nagi returned to the dormitory, packed his luggage briefly, and then went directly to the airport to board the plane with Le Hoff to Ostend.
As soon as he got off the plane, Nagi could feel the sea breeze blowing into his nostrils accompanied by bursts of fishy smell. It is worthy of being a harbor city. Ostend is different from Genk, which is dry and cold. Even in December, the temperature will not be very low. He wears thick clothes and feels a little hot.
The two of them went to the seaside villa non-stop, and when they arrived at the destination, it was indeed consistent with what Balmond had described, and it was a place with pleasant scenery.
The villa is located in a small group of villas. It is a two-story building. The first floor is a large living room and dining room, as well as a kitchen and bathroom. More importantly, there is a heated swimming pool outside. The area is small. But it was enough for usual swimming training.
On the basement floor is a large gym with all the training equipment in it, which is not far behind the training room of the Genk Club.
There were four rooms on the second floor, the largest room has a panoramic glass sliding door, which opens to a large open-air balcony, facing the sea and the beach. Tourists in twos and threes can be seen playing.
Nagi couldn't help asking Balmond next to him: "Bamond, how much is this house? 150,000 euros, but the annual taxes and management fees are quite expensive."
When Nagi heard this, he dismissed the idea. 150,000 euros is indeed not too expensive for him now, but he can't live there for a few days a year, but he has to bear complicated other expenses, so renting is more reasonable.
After taking a brief rest, Nagi started training according to the plan made by Le Goff. The difference with the Genk training ground here is that there is no dedicated field for football training, so Nagi mainly focuses on fitness, yoga, and swimming to continuously exercise his physical fitness and endurance.
Of course, you can't completely stop practicing the ball. Nagi would practice juggling the ball in the small courtyard of the villa, not only on the left and right feet, but also on the knees, shoulders, head and other places. This would help to better stop the ball on the field .
Fulfilling days always go by very quickly. During Christmas, Nagi did not train all the time, but went to the town to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere with everyone, and tasted the seafood in Ostend. The freshly caught sea The food was so delicious and sweet that even Nagi couldn't help eating a little more, so he could only rely on extra training to make up for the problem caused by his greedy mouth.