Hikaru Minegishi

Hikaru Minegishi
嶺岸 光
Personal information
Full name Hikaru de Asis Minegishi
Date of birth (1991-06-05) 5 June 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Urawa Red Diamonds
2007–2009 Seiwa Gakuen High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Sendai University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Global Cebu 49 (30)
2018 Pattaya United 7 (0)
2019 JL Chiangmai United 6 (1)
2019–2022 United City 16 (2)
2023 Uthai Thani 8 (1)
International career
2016– Philippines 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 06:40, 19 June 2023 (UTC)

Hikaru Minegishi (Japanese: 嶺岸 光, Minegishi Hikaru), also known by his nickname Pika, is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Philippines national team.

Early life and education

Minegishi was born on June 5, 1991.[1] His Filipino mother is a native of Olongapo[2] while his father is Japanese. He studied at the Seiwa Gakuen High School for his secondary studies and later attended the Sendai University for his collegiate studies.[3]

Club career

Youth

Minegishi was part of the youth system of the Urawa Red Diamonds. He also played as part of the football team of Sendai University.[2]

Senior

Global Cebu

Fellow Filipino-Japanese, Daisuke Sato invited Minegishi to play club football in the Philippines.[4] In early 2015, Global F.C. of the United Football League had signed Minegishi.[2] Minegishi scored 17 goals in 17 league matches for Global in the 2016 UFL season reportedly by October 5, 2016.[3] He was awarded the Golden Ball at the end of the season.[5] Minegishi ended his stint with Global Cebu with a runner-up finish at the inaugural season of the Philippine Football League in 2017.[6]

Pattaya United

He moved to Pattaya United F.C. and will form part of the club starting in the 2018 Thai League 1 season.[6]

International career

Philippines

By November 5, 2016, Minegishi was processing his Philippine passport for him to be eligible to play for the Philippines national football team.[7]

Minegishi made his debut for the Philippines[8] in their first group stage match against Singapore, coming on as a half-time substitute. The match ended in a 0–0 draw.[9][10] In the next group stage match where the Philippines settled for a 2–2 draw with Indonesia, Minegishi made his first international start.[11]

On 22 March 2018, Minegishi scored his debut international goal for the Philippines, scoring the Azkals' second goal in a 3-2 friendly win over Fiji.[12]

International goals

Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.[13]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
2018
1. 22 March Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila  Fiji
2–0
3–2
Friendly

References

  1. ^ "[2016 AFF Suzuki Cup] Final Round Group Competition Group A - Final Registration of Officials and Players - Team: Philippines" (PDF). ASEAN Football Federation. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Guerrereo, Bob (3 February 2015). "Could Global FC's new signings break into the Azkals?". The Passionate Fan. Yahoo!. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  3. ^ a b "日本人がフィリピン1部で大爆発中!17戦17得点、FW嶺岸光を知っているか [Part 1]" [Japanese making waves in the Philippines with 17 goals and appearances [for his club]. Do you know about FW Hikaru Minigeshi?]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. ^ "日本人がフィリピン1部で大爆発中!17戦17得点、FW嶺岸光を知っているか [Part 2]" [Japanese making waves in the Philippines with 17 goals and appearances [for his club]. Do you know about FW Hikaru Minigeshi?]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 5 October 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  5. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (19 November 2016). "Global, Minegishi share spotlight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  6. ^ a b Diaz, Rey Charlie (21 December 2017). "Global Cebu FC midfielder transfers to Pattaya United". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. ^ Guerrero, Bob (5 November 2016). "Azkals-Kyrgyzstan preview: Fitness a concern". Rappler. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  8. ^ "リーグMVPの嶺岸光、ついにフィリピン代表デビュー!" [League MVP Hikaru Minegishi finally makes his Philippine national team debut!]. Quoly Football Web Magazine (in Japanese). 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. ^ Ventura, Sid (19 November 2016). "Azkals held to frustrating 0-0 draw by 10-man Singapore". Sports 5. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  10. ^ Tan, Gabriel (19 November 2016). "Ten-man Singapore hold on to draw with Philippines in 2016 AFF opener". ESPN FC. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Younghusband Keeps Suzuki Cup Semis Bid Alive in Draw vs Indonesia". Football.com.ph. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  12. ^ Go, Beatrice (22 March 2018). "Azkals survive late scare in friendly win over Fiji". Rappler. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Minegishi, Hikaru". National Football Teams. Retrieved 22 March 2018.