© fkzalgiris.lt
Former newcomer Yukiyoshi Karashima, who has been in the ranks of "Žalgiris" opponents for two seasons, said that he decided instantly when he received an offer from the Lithuanian champions.
The 25-year-old Japanese, briefly called Yuki, spent the last two years in Kaunas, playing for the "Hegelmann" team and proving himself as one of the brightest defenders. Invited to the ranks of the Lithuanian champions, he did not hesitate for long and this winter became the first new player to sign a contract with "Žalgiris".
"I am very happy to be here, joining this great club. I can't wait to test myself in international matches. When I received an offer from 'Žalgiris' I decided immediately. I have played many times against this team and I know how strong it is, what kind of a club it is. Last year the club played in Europe and did it amazingly," said Y. Karashima.
Asked what it took to compete against the Žalgiris players, he replied: "There were no players in the Vilnius team who would make simple mistakes. It was hard to get the ball and keep it. All the players are strong and fast. It was always hard to win one-on-one."
According to the player, in Vilnius he hopes to further develop his best qualities. "My strength is to hold the ball well. That's why I thought that by joining 'Žalgiris' I would have the ball more often. This way I can enjoy the game more," explained the Japanese. "Among my strengths are making good forward passes, as well as high ones. I think I can play smartly. I feel the moment for the team. If it's hard, I can hold the ball longer, slow down the pace. When we attack, I can create opportunities for the attackers. Last year I gained confidence in long-range shots. I hope to score even more."
Talking about goals, he said he wants to rise even higher with the team: "First of all, I want to grow here as a player, technically, physically. I want to achieve something historical with 'Žalgiris'. For the team to perform better than last year. Of course, I want to play in groups, but also achieve more than before."
