Kashima Antlers defender Naoki Soma had surgery on his injured left knee Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined for the entire first stage of the 2001 J. League season, which will kick off March 10.
Doctors at a Tsukuba hospital in Ibaraki Prefecture said the former Japan international, who tore ligaments in his left knee in an Emperor's Cup semifinal on Dec. 29, will be hospitalized for about 10 days and will then need to undergo a six-month rehabilitation program.