Masato Kudo: Former Japanese worldwide and MLS soccer participant dies aged 32

CNN
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Japanese soccer membership Tegevajaro Miyazaki has introduced the demise of striker Masato Kudo at age 32, the Japan Occasions stories.

“From his achievements within the J1 to being chosen for the Samurai Blue, Kudo was an extremely achieved participant. However regardless of that he was by no means smug and cherished his teammates, the membership and our supporters. He personified our membership slogan, ‘shinshi’ (honest). For that kind of participant to go away us so quickly is unhappy and unlucky, ” the membership’s president, Keita Nimura ​mentioned.

Kudo, a former Japanese Worldwide and MLS soccer participant, was recognized with hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid within the ventricles of the mind – and hospitalized on October 3 after falling sick the day past, Reuters reported.

The Japanese Skilled Soccer League confirmed his passing on Twitter:

“Together with the whole Japanese soccer neighborhood, we mourn the passing of Masato Kudo and want to categorical our most heartfelt condolences to his household and buddies,” the statement read.

Whereas taking part in for Kashiwa Reysol in the beginning of his profession, Kudo grew to become the membership’s main scorer within the prime division of Japanese soccer and gained Japan’s three main membership titles, native media reported.

He performed 4 matches for Japan’s nationwide crew in 2013, scoring two objectives, earlier than leaving the nation to hitch the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the 2016 MLS season.

“Kudo was liked by all who had the pleasure of understanding him,” Whitecaps FC mentioned in a press release. “He was form, gracious, and his smile would mild up the room.”

Tributes additionally flooded in from Australia, the place Kudo performed for Brisbane Roar through the 2020-21 Isuzu UTE A-League season, making 14 appearances for the membership.

“He had such a beautiful persona and at all times turned as much as coaching each morning with a beaming smile on his face,” the A-League males’s head coach, Warren Moon, mentioned.

“He will probably be enormously missed, and our hearts exit to his spouse and younger daughter at this unhappy time.”

Kudo’s former teammates at Brisbane Roar honored him during their match on Saturday towards the Western Sydney Wanderers by holding up a jersey along with his title and quantity on the again.

“Soccer Australia is deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Japanese ahead Masato Kudo,” Soccer Australia, the game’s governing physique in Australia, additionally tweeted.

“Our honest condolences exit to his buddies, household and the broader soccer neighborhood in Japan throughout this tough time.”