Is Tomoyuki Doi as good as Erling Haaland?
This tongue-in-cheek question pops into one's mind after the Geylang International ace striker scored a brace against title heavyweights Lion City Sailors in an August 30 league match that saw him salvaging a credible 2-2 draw for his side.
His heroics at Bishan Stadium brought his goal tally in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) to 22 - an astounding achievement considering that the campaign has yet to hit its half-way mark.
According to diehard Eagles faithful Nabil, who once created matchday programme for his beloved club, the aforementioned question is a non-starter due to the different leagues both footballers are playing in. "I don't want to disrespect both players," he responds diplomatically. "They are equally great players for their strength and ability based on the net worth and league they played for."
But if one is to truly put the question to a test, fellow supporter Fabian Siew points out on comparing only the duo's playing styles, while holding other factors constant. "All things considered, I think Doi may be a better striker due to his all-rounded play."
While the comparison between the two hotshots seems far-fetched, what is not in doubt for ardent fan Alex Bong is Doi's reputation as "SPL's Haaland". "As long as he has that bit of space inside the penalty box, 90% chance is goal," he says of the lethal finisher.
The leading Golden Boot contender's terrific goalscoring record has earned high praises from the Geylang supporters.
"Exceptional" was a superlative used by Nabil to describe Doi's season. He explains, "It's not just about his remarkable goalscoring chances. His threats and presence on the field not only provide excitement but also allow our local players like Iqbal Hussain and Naqiuddin Eunos more involvement in the attacking third."
The former Albirex Niigata trainee's first-rate performance is also dependant on the quality of support from his teammates - an observation highlighted by Fabian. Any drop-off in service though may hamper the star striker's attacking threat. "He would have to work harder to track back to fight for possession, which may tire him more and affect his attacking responsibilities. Fortunately, it is assuring that we have not seen a reduction in his goal per game ratio despite a recent dwindling in team support," says the astute reader of the game.
Given the tight tussle between Geylang and Balestier Khalsa for third spot, with the former ahead on goal difference but having played one more game, the Eagles fans like Alex and Fabian are counting on Doi to stay fit and keep plundering the goals.
The 2021 Golden Boot winner is on course to not only reclaim this individual honour, but also to break SAFFC legend Mirko Grabovac's record of scoring the most goals in a single league campaign (39 goals in 2001).
However, Nabil feels that assessing Doi's success by this league milestone may not be a good measure of his achievement. "It won't be fair to compare with past top scorers because the league itself has been inconsistent on the number of games played over the seasons," the long-time fan explains. "Instead, what he can focus to achieve are small achievements in a game such as the fastest hattrick and scoring six goals in a match."
There are still 18 more league matches for the Japanese goal machine to accomplish those feats, including possibly one against his former club, Albirex Niigata, this Sunday (September 15). Indeed, he had already terrorised the defence of his ex-employers earlier in May by scoring an impressive treble and would hope to replicate that success in front of goal.
With Doi's season-long contract expiring in June next year, Alex is hopeful that the Geylang management would break the bank to secure his future with the club. "If we don't tie him down, other club will pay him more for his services."
Team news: Barring the injured Huzaifah Aziz and Naufal Azman, head coach Noor Ali has a fully fit squad at his disposal. Having not won in the last two fixtures, Noor counts on his charges to secure the three points this weekend as the race for third spot heats up.
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