When Japan take on Ecuador in their opening game of the FIFA U20 World Youth Championship, Mikuni Kenedyevs will be at the heart of the defence of the Japanese side, Owngoalnigeria.com understands.
The 18 year old who stands at an impressive height of 1.92m plays for second division Japanese side Avi Spa Fukuoka and his rise to the second division from high school football has caught the eye due to the ease at which he has settled down to life as a professional football.
Born to a Nigerian father, who was an immigrant in Japan, he has established himself in the first team of the second division side and has so far played ten games after 14 round of matches in the division for the 21st placed side.
He was recruited from Aomori Yamada High school in Fukuoka by scouts of Avispa Fukuoka at the age of 17 and in less than a year his rise through the youth ranks to the first team has been referred to as phenomenal.
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Despite the fact that he will play for Argentina at the FIFA U20 World Youth Championship, he will still be eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria in the future but that looks like a long shot judging by the fact that he has spent all his life in Japan.