Moreton City Excelsior's Japanese Trio

Kenshin Takagishi delivered what looked like a thunderous dipping free-kick past the goalkeeper, certainly handing Moreton City the well-deserved win over their away counterparts.

Japanese Footballers are often distinguished thanks to their amazing spatial awareness, tactical intelligence and work-rate - the embodiment of the ekkono scouting/coaching method.

The trio at Moreton Excelsior are no exception - Kenshin Takagishi in specific, has an extraordinarily good striking technique of the ball. His dead-ball ability separates him from the rest in the league.

Takagishi arrived in February 2025 from Mito HollyHock - his jump to the Australian Leagues a bold move.

The central midfielder is able to not only bomb upwards but come short for the passing networks. He is a Chuo University graduate - which was also the university attended by Kyogo Furuhashi.

Seita Murai arrived at the club after his exit from FC imabari in 2023. The attack-minded player often finds pockets of space in behind a striker and is able to manipulate the ball rather well.

Murai has history of being brought up through the youth system at Tokyo Verdy U18, going through spells with Nara Club and Ococias Kyoto.

Another former Ococias Kyoto player turning out for Moreton is Keitatsu Kojima - a winger from Kumamoto who indeed came through Roasse Kumamoto's U18s set-up. The player signed for GC Knights before making the move to Moreton in 2024.