Nagoya Grampus Eight's Norwegian international striker Frode Johnsen used to get a kick out of preventing punters from scoring by tackling drug dealers in predawn raids.

Johnsen breaks into a broad grin as he recalls one of his "winning goals" as a police cadet, though one can detect a sense of relief that he has been able to make a successful career out of scoring for punters instead.

"I had one year practicing as a regular policeman and did arrest someone. It was for narcotics so he deserved it," Johnsen said in a recent interview.

"His house was about 400 meters away. We swooped from behind a bush and he ran away but I caught him with a diving tackle, scored the winning goal, so to speak," joked the 32-year-old.