Former France international Bafetimbi Gomis made his J. League debut with a start for Kawasaki Frontale on Friday night, playing just over an hour in his team’s 1-0 win over FC Tokyo in the Tamagawa Clasico.
The 38-year-old, who joined the four-time J1 champion from Galatasaray earlier this summer, attempted to assert himself as the lone striker up front, but earned relatively few touches on the night and struggled to build up speed in the final third.
"Gomis isn't at 100%, but he's been incredibly professional about improving his condition in training," Toru Oniki said. "When the ball comes to him in training games you feel the potential for something to happen. ... He's adjusting to a new system and taking on a lot, and I don't blame him if he struggles at times.