"My only aim is to continue winning the games and take my club all the way to the Final to win the trophy," said Yamada. "In the ACL Elite, Vissel Kobe could not make it to the Finals in Jeddah, so I want to seize this opportunity and finish the event as the first-ever champion."

Despite the AFC eChampions League Elite being Yamada’s first ever international event, the 30-year-old has not only repeatedly produced impressive performances against several Asian powerhouses including Johor Darul Ta’zim and Shanghai Shenhua, but has also taken the responsibility of representing the Japanese side without a supporting teammate.

“I have prepared well and felt ready from the very first game,” he said. “I approached every match with the mindset of maintaining the top position, and I am glad it has paid off. Even though I don’t have a teammate as a backup, I don’t feel any pressure and have grown to enjoy the responsibility.

“It is my first overseas event, and being able to communicate and play with players from other countries has been an amazing and enjoyable experience and this event is the perfect stage for talented esports players to be discovered and nurtured, and I look forward to more such initiatives in the near future.”