Former Be Forward Wanderers player Genki Nakamura has resurfaced in New Zealand where he wants to complete his quest to play professional football in all continents.
Nakamura became the first Japanese to play in Malawi’s TNM Super League after joining the Nomads in 2016.
He played for less than a season before returning to Japan and now he has secured a deal with New Zealand outfit Bay Olympic.
“It’s been a long time since I came, but I’m in New Zealand now. I was looking for a team in the last [Fifa] confederation—Oceania [OFC] to play soccer,” he said.
Nakamura has already played in the other Fifa confederations Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), North America, Central America and the Caribbean (Concacaf), South America (Conmebol) and Europe (Uefa).
The midfielder however, said he will retire this year after completing his contract with the New Zealand club.
“I’m not a player to say I am retiring. I’m still working on my body and I feel like I can do it. I can’t think of a life without football, But I’m going to retire in summer. I’m still hungry to play football however, I have achieved my goal to play in all the continents.”
Nakamura’s arrival at Wanderers was full of pomp and fanfare but the Japanese player struggled to adapt to Malawi football.
“It’s too hot here. It will take time for me to adapt,” he had said back in 2016.
But this never happened as he only played a handful of games as a substitute before returning to his home, Japan.
