Mid-August 2021, 1st matchday of the 21/22 season: In the SC Freiburg game (0-0), Bielefeld’s Masaya Okugawa missed several chances.
Since his shots lacked the ultimate consistency and power, fellow striker Fabian Klos felt compelled to say after the final whistle that he might have to give him a slice of bread. It is not known whether the Bielefeld veteran actually gave the slender Japanese a sandwich. But the fact is: Okugawa has developed into a real snapper in East Westphalia.
Important points thanks to Okugawa’s goals
In the first 15 games of the season, the Bielefeld supporters celebrated a pitiful ten goals. In the past four games, however, it has been two per game. The 25-year-old scored once in each of these games and has now become the most successful goalscorer in Bielefeld with seven goals this season. He is one hit more successful than the entire Ostwestfalen assault division (3x Klos, 2x Lasme, 1x Serra).
Okugawa’s marksmanship helped the Arminen to gain important points in the relegation battle: out of six games in which the 68-kilogram Okugawa scored, the DSC didn’t lose one. Only his goal to make it 1-1 in Gladbach (final score 1-3) was “unprofitable” art in the end.
Kramer: “Smart player with super runs”
Okugawa often achieves success himself. If you look at the way the little man from Bielefeld plays, his off-ball play is particularly striking. The lively Japanese always creates space for his teammates on the offensive and very often offers himself in a good passing position. “Masaya is a smart player who keeps throwing in great runs“, said his trainer Frank Kramer recently, who can now also be happy that Okugawa is showing callousness in front of goal.