Ventforet Kofu might be struggling to keep their heads above water this season, but striker Mike Havenaar is making a big splash in the J. League's first division.
Kofu went into its first top-flight campaign since 2007 hoping to build on the momentum that carried it to a runnerup finish in J2 last year, but the step up in quality has so far proved beyond the reach of the Yamanashi club. Promising early results have spiraled into a steady free fall to leave Ventforet currently six points from safety in the relegation places, with manager Toshiya Miura making way for Satoru Sakuma earlier this month in a bid to escape the drop.
Amid the gloom, however, Havenaar's form has given room for optimism. The Hiroshima-born son of Dutch former J. League goalkeeper Dido Havenaar has hit nine goals so far in a breakthrough season, picking up from where he left off last year as J2 top scorer with 20.