However, the spotlight that the Denilson affair trained on him raises more questions than answers about this Brazilian of Japanese descent and his work in Vietnam.

A few weeks ago, he announced at a press meet: “I am Mauro Omzuka, who brings Denílson de Oliveira Araújo to Hai Phong. Denilson can’t speak English very well and though his brother is a representative, it would be better to speak to me if you need any information.”

When one of us said we were surprised to see him look like an Asian while he said was a Brazilian, Omzuka said, “Well, everyone is surprised. I look like a Japanese man but I was only born there. Now I am a Brazilian and live in Brazil.”

During the interview, Omzuka deftly avoided answering all questions regarding Denilson’s remuneration and knee injury, and all the sensitive matters.

Denilson signed a three-month contract with Hai Phong to play for the northern coastal city club in the second half of V-League. In the first match after he arrived, a home encounter against current leaders Da Nang on June 6, the Lach Tray Stadium was filled with spectators hoping to see a former World Cup star in action, but the Brazilian only showed up in the stands as a spectator with Omzuka sitting on his right-hand side.

They both chewed gum, drank water and seemed to be having a good time, but the fans were getting testy as the home team began to flounder and conceded two goals without scoring.

As they began to vent their frustration and anger loudly with several acts of vandalism, the star player looked worried, but Omzuka was unfazed.

Meeting with the press after the match, Omzuka said calmly, “Denilson has a bit of a health problem so he couldn’t play but he is fine.”

When all the facts about Denilson’s injury became known 24 hours later, Omzuka was still in Hai Phong but made no comment. It was revealed the Brazilian star was carrying a serious knee injury that would not allow him to play football for the three months that he had been contracted for.

Fortunately, Denilson, who was the most expensive player in the world in 1998 when Spanish club Real Betis paid Brazilian club São Paulo FC US$32 million for him, swallowed the pain of his injury to put on cleats to play for Hai Phong a fortnight later. He did not disappoint on his debut, scoring from a second-minute free kick in the home team’s 3-1 win against 2003-04 V-League champs Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

But in another twist to the tale, just three days later, on June 24, Denilson apparently asked to be released from the contract and left the country abruptly.

Broker benefits

For the record, only Mae Mua, an overseas Vietnamese employee of Strata, a sports marketing company, has a FIFA license to work as a broker in the country.

Omzuka, like other brokers in Vietnam, doesn’t have such documentation, but has the reputation of being the most reliable broker in Vietnam with a good source of players.

His entry point into Vietnam could have been through Brazilian club Masubasa. In recent years, the Brazilian mid-level club has brought several players to play friendlies in Vietnam.

Omzuka’s father-in-law is the president of Masubasa.

Omzuka began his “career” in Vietnam in 2005, arriving in Ho Chi Minh City with his wife. He came here because he understood that Vietnam was a “fertile land” for him.

One of the first players he introduced was Da Silva to Hoa Phat Hanoi. Silva now plays for second-tier First-Division club Can Tho. Another was William Santos, also to Hoa Phat Hanoi, who later moved to Khanh Hoa and now plays for Can Tho, too.

Industry insiders say most Vietnamese clubs, from V-League to First Division, have asked Omzuka for assistance. He has not only brought in players from Brazil but also from other countries like Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

Omzuka is not only a broker but also a players’ representative except in the case of Denilson.

He reportedly gets at least VND500 million ($28,083) from a transfer, with his charges increasing depending on the quality of players. It is also said that he never makes it too expensive for the clubs, and asks for reasonable fees from players.

In the case of Denilson, Omzuka is said to have received VND500 million from Hai Phong and VND1.3 billion from Denilson, who was paid VND9 billion by Hai Phong. None of these figures have been confirmed, however.

An online report at www.bongda.com.vn quotes interpreter Viet Hung as saying he was not surprised when the Brazilian star left. He said the departure had to do with disagreement with the club regarding his remuneration.

It is also said that Omzuka was aware of Denilson’s injuries when he brokered the deal, but went ahead with it anyway.

It is not clear at present how the Denilson affair has affected Omzuko’s standing in Vietnamese football, but the clubs must have learnt a few lessons on the do’s and don’t of hiring foreign players, especially of star billing.

Reported by Lan Phuong