2021/22 Hidemasa Morita | 2022/23 Kyosuke Tagawa |2023- Kento Misao @ C.D. Santa Clara (POR)

Living and playing in such club and such atmosphere will add precious experience to Morita.

Santa Clara is based in the Azores islands, a group of islands in the Middle of Atlantic ocean, placed almost midway between Portugal and Canada.

Azores are 1200 KMs away from mainland Portugal (almost as double as the length separating Okinawa from Kyushu).

I remember Shibasaki feeling estranged when he first moved to play in Las Palms (based in the Canary Islands and few hundreds KMs away from mainland Spain).

Let's see how Morita's will develop in this almost obscure part of the world, where he might be among the first Japanese people to step on the Azores Islands shores

 

It is Official now:

https://cdsantaclara.com/oficial-hidemasa-morita/

3.5 years contract, running until the end of the 2023/2024 sesson.

 

Tell me more about him as a player.
One of Frontales best players this season?

 

One of the more important players alongside Jung, Tanaka, Taniguchi, Jesiel and Mitoma imo. Quite surprised that no news on Tanaka and Mitoma yet OTOH.

Maybe they are not interested in leaving Kawasaki, at least as of yet.

 

Morita was a big reason why Frontale were able to play their style this year - they could count on his anticipation, range, and 1v1 strength to snuff out a ton of counterattacks before they happen. Not very flashy in possession but technically sound and very intelligent. A very cerebral player who could continue to compete for a spot as Japan's #6 - he doesn't have Endo's athleticism but the tactical awareness and defensive technique are really top notch.

He'll do well if he can adapt well off the pitch. His wife is taking time off from her modeling career to travel to the Azores with him, which should help him? As for language, he's a Osaka native who likes to goof off with teammates, bantering with Damião and Jesiel in broken Portuguese...so I hope it goes well.

 

Hidemasa Morita made his debut this evening, as he is starting in Santa Clara's match against Rio Ave.

On the opposite side, Ryotaro Meshino starts for Rio Ave.

 

... and Morita scored his team's winner in his debut:

1353769531265708032 is not a valid tweet id

 

Man of the match! Looks like Hide bought some new shooting boots in Portugal.

 

At least the last viewpoint shown was rather clear. But the field sure looked unplayable at that point.

 

Santa Clara gets knocked out of the Taça de Portugal at the quarterfinal stage, while Morita assists a consolation goal in the dying seconds.

⚽ GOLO
Cryzan 96'
Taça Placard (Quartos de Final) | SC Braga 2-1 Santa Clara#TaçadePortugal #SCBCDSC pic.twitter.com/6RqxInun6D

— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) January 29, 2021

 

Interview with Santa Clara coach Daniel Ramos

According to the coach, sporting director Diogo Boa Alma proposed several midfielders as potential January acquisitions in line with Ramos' wishes. As soon as he was shown video footage of Morita, Ramos asked to sign him, feeling that he could be "important in Portuguese football". He is confident that Morita has a "brilliant future" in store, even though he only speaks a few words of English and records Ramos' conversations to send to a translator from his phone.

 

A comfortable 3-0 win against Paços de Ferreira and an excellent run and assist for Morita.

⚽ GOLO
Carlos Jr. 56'
Liga NOS (#21) | Santa Clara 3-0 Paços de Ferreira#LigaNOS #CDSCFCPF pic.twitter.com/ZHDZyQkFY9

— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) February 27, 2021

 

Santa Clara's website named Morita its Man of the Match, calling him "O Maestro Japonês" and describing his brilliant play in florid turns of phrase:

 

Video interview in Japanese by a Portuguese journalist:

Está no ar! 🚨

A primeira parte da entrevista a @mrt_510 , médio do @CD_SantaClara que acabou de ser convocado à seleção do Japão 🇯🇵

(Sim, temos legendas! 😅)https://t.co/jow7XTpHGD

— ZEROZERO (@zerozeropt) March 23, 2021

 

Morita's 2nd goal of the year in Santa Clara's season finale was a page out of his ex-teammate Mitoma's book, helping them earn a Conference League spot.

守田ナイスゴール
日本のボランチって本当に層が厚いな pic.twitter.com/D1Kc8HOGPw

— ぶりぶり (@Buri____Buri) May 20, 2021

 

Isn't that a massive result for a club like Santa Clara?

 

um wow.

気になる守田選手 @mrt_510 のゴールはこちら⚽
起点の場面からフィニッシュまで全てが一級品✨ pic.twitter.com/KKroATapHm

— ポルトガル・リーグ｜日本語公式 (@ligaportugal_JP) May 20, 2021

 

Great team goal !

 

Braga has made an offer

 

Three millions in this COVID-related era... it's a lot. And Braga are a good team. It'd make sense.

 

Hidemasa Morita's goal for Santa Clara vs. Partizan Belgrade in the UEFA Conference League playoffs round: