Peter Utaka, 37, has led Kyoto Sanga to the J-League in Japan with a game left, a feat he missed by the whiskers last season while in the colours of Ventforet Kofu.
Kyoto Sanga had been in the J1 wilderness for 11 years and it was mainly Utaka’s goals that fired them back to the top flight to grab a king’s treatment as he wrapped his second season at Kyoto in grand style.
He would make up for that by firing 22 goals to emerge the top scorer and entered the J League Hall of Fame by becoming the fourth player ever to emerge top scorer in both J1 and J2 and the first African to achieve that feat.
Urawa Reds kept up the chase for the league diadem from start to finish as Utaka and Kyoto Sanga kept alive their two-horse race but a couple of defeats would ultimately put Reds’ noses in front for the title with a game left.
But Utaka’s business with Reds hasn’t finished yet, he’s a goal shy of their Brazilian striker, Lukian in the race for the goledor prize.
Utaka’s 21 goals are in direct race for Lukian’s 22 and the former OB Odense marksman may not be on long walk to top scoring for the sixth time in his career.
Utaka is staring history on the face for his sixth Japanese side since he arrived at Shimizu Pulse in 2015 and perhaps, he could be contesting election for Mayor of Kyoto should he put Lukian in the shade for the top goals prize.
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