Newly relegated Sanfrecce Hiroshima has signed former Brazil international midfielder Cesar Sampaio from first division Kashiwa Reysol, Hiroshima officials said Sunday.
Sampaio, who played for four seasons with Yokohama Flugels from 1995, joined Kashiwa this season from Brazilian club Corinthians and scored three goals in 26 league appearances for the Chiba club. He signed an 11-month contract with Hiroshima effective from Feb. 1, 2003.
Motoyama sidelined
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. (Kyodo) Kashima Antlers midfielder Masashi Motoyama will be sidelined until mid-February after sustaining a knee injury in Saturday's Emperor's Cup semifinal win over JEF United Ichihara, Kashima officials said Sunday.
Motoyama limped off in the first half of Kashima's 2-0 triumph at Nagai Stadium after damaging ligaments in his right knee and was told by doctors he will need six weeks to fully recover from the injury.