HOSHINO TARGETS 20 GOALS

Replacement for 44-goal Doi eager to prove that Geylang made right decision

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Besides scoring, Geylang forward (from front) Shuhei Hoshino also wants to help Ryoya Taniguchi and Vincent Bezecourt net more goals. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

(ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI)

Replacing a team’s top scorer is never easy, let alone when it is a forward like Japanese hitman Tomoyuki Doi, who plundered 44 goals in 31 matches for Geylang International in the 2024-25 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season.

While most would deem finding a suitable replacement top of their priority list, football fans and pundits were befuddled when the Eagles announced in July that former Albirex Niigata and Balestier Khalsa forward Shuhei Hoshino would be taking the place of Doi.

Doi was snapped up by Thai giants BG Pathum United in June after a prolific season here. In comparison, Hoshino netted just seven goals in 29 appearances for the White Swans.

The Japanese, 29, is eager to prove to fans that Geylang have made the right decision.

In their last outing against the Young Lions in the SPL on Oct 25, he opened his account for the Eagles with a 21st-minute goal in their 3-1 victory at Our Tampines Hub.