Football Season Guide

Tokushima Vortis finished 15th in 2023 and full 10 points above the relegation zone. This was impressive considering the team achieved the second-fewest wins (10) this season. Having the equal-most draws (19) was useful and the ability to dig deep and withstand pressure was priceless. It has been a quiet winter so far for Tokushima with their main two new recruits that could become regular starters up to now being full-backs – Yanagisawa and Hashimoto. Tokushima lost their best centre-back Abe this winter, as well as, their only reliable striker Kota Mori. Yet to find a replacement for the latter and the worries are that the mighty struggles in attack from 2023 will only get worse. The third important player that has left the club and is yet to be replaced properly is the crucial inner midfielder Eiji Shirai. He was vital for the team’s stability in this area last season and it seems now 35-year-old veteran Ryota Nagaki will have to do even more in midfield. Tokushima are not a team known for their exciting football and the goal most likely once more will be to crowd their own part of the pitch and make sure they don’t concede more than a goal or two in every match. The big question remaining is if the strikers will score enough goals to keep Tokushima out of trouble this year too.