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Mr. Yamanaka is the first Japanese player to sign with a professional football club in Costa Rica. Previously, Mr. Yamanaka played at the pro level in the Dominican Republic, where he was signed with the San Cristobal FC of the defunct First Division. He was part of the final squad of that club, which would later be renamed as Atletico San Cristobal in the new top-tier league of that Caribbean nation.
In 2015, Mr. Yamanaka arrived in Costa Rica with the intent of getting signed by a professional football club. He arrived a bit late in the signing and transfer window for foreign football players who aim to play in the First Division. Back then, Mr. Yamanaka explained to The Costa Rica Star that he was impressed with professional football in our country; he has always been interested in the style of play in Latin American nations.
Although Mr. Yamanaka received interest from CSU in his first visit, the signing period had come to an end, and he returned to Japan with his head down and with no money. While staying at a hostel in downtown Alajuela, Mr. Yamanaka’s belongings were ransacked and his cash stolen. It is not clear whether he filed a police report, but he was disheartened by this type of crime, which is highly unusual in his native country.
While in Japan, another unfortunate set of events set upon Mr. Yamanaka. The club who would ultimately sign him in Costa Rica was demoted from the First Division to the second-tier promotion league. CSU is one of the oldest clubs in our country, and it had spent a good portion of the 21st century in the second division, which is currently known as Liga Movistar. By the time CSU agreed to sign Mr. Yamanaka, the club was on its way out of the top-tier league.
Mr. Yamanaka will have substantial work to do at CSU. The Liga Movistar is extremely competitive, and it takes two full victorious seasons for a club to be promoted. He is excited to be in Costa Rica, where he always wanted to play.
