First Japanese joins Bulgarian league

Attacking midfielder Taisuke Akiyoshi has joined Slavia Sofia on a 2-1/2-year deal from Singapore Armed Forces to become the first Japanese player in the Bulgarian league, the Sofia-based club said on Tuesday. "Slavia were the first Bulgarian club to sign a Brazilian (Rogerio Pereira) and now we're the first club, signing a Japanese player," seven-times Bulgarian champions' president Ventislav Stefanov told a news conference.
Slavia, founded in 1913, are the oldest Sofia club and Stefanov said the club will do their best to win the title to mark the 100th anniversary.