After a disappointing 2000, both with Japan's Olympic team and in the J. League with JEF United, midfielder Nozomi Hiroyama, now with Cerro Porteno of the Paraguayan League, is aiming to prove himself when Japan plays Paraguay in the Kirin Cup. "After being dropped from the Olympic squad, many people helped me come back to where I am today," Hiroyama said on Thursday after joining Japan's senior side in Yokohama. "This is a good opportunity for me to return their kindness."

The 24-year-old former J. Leaguer flew from Asuncion on Wednesday after helping his team win the Paraguayan League's first stage last weekend.

Hiroyama is one of the new faces in Philippe Troussier's squad for the three-nation Kirin Cup.

"I've only reached the starting point (on the national team)," Hiroyama noted. "But I'd like to show the good parts of my game. I'm good at playing on the right flank and feel I am strong in one-on-one situations."

Hiroyama, who mainly plays as a right winger with Cerro, has so far played for his new club in 14 league games and eight Libertadores Cup games. He has scored once in the league and twice in the Libertadores Cup.

At JEF United, Hiroyama was a regular from 1996 to 1999, but was hampered by a torn hamstring last year and played in only nine games.

The native of Ichihara also missed out on going to the Olympics after playing in the qualifiers.

Hiroyama opted to challenge himself and asked his J. League club to let him go abroad. He eventually joined Cerro on a six-month loan. He has one month left on that deal. "The Paraguayan people are very welcoming and they accepted me as I am, which has helped me focus on my game," Hiroyama said. "I'm grateful to them.

"After playing with my Cerro teammates, who are hungry for success, I felt stimulated by them and started to think that I also want to become successful."

Hiroyama is now ready to face up to the challenge of playing with the national team, which features many of his old colleagues from the Olympic squad.

"All the members are battling for their place on the team, so I'm not that confident, but I still think I have a chance."

According to Hiroyama, Troussier, who dumped him from the Olympic squad, said he thought the player was a different person now.

"Troussier said to me I've changed," Hiroyama explained. "But I don't know what made him say that. I've just worked hard. That's all. But it's nice to have been given a chance like this. I'll do my best."

Referring to Sunday's game against Paraguay, Hiroyama commented: "Paraguay is a special team to me. We cannot afford to lose to them as we are playing at home, but I want to impress the people in Paraguay as well."