When someone is asked who the best product of non league football is, and that has gone on to become a star in their own right, the typical answer you get is Jamie Vardy. Having made his name in non league football for clubs such as Stocksbridge Park Steels, FC Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town and then his big move to Leicester City, which gave him the platform to play in major international tournaments, is it possible there's another superstar lurking within the tens of thousands of players registered within England's 11th tier?
This is certainly possible. After watching 21 year old Morrison Hashii and his performance in London Samurai Rovers' 7-0 away win versus Bagshot in the Combined Counties Division One on Saturday I was certainly impressed. Not only with the calmness in which he dispatched his three goals at the weekend, but also the presence he displayed with and without the ball and the way he linked up with strike partner, Kuba Welna and the rest of his team...
...Oh, and did I mention, he is also the top goal scorer in England's top eleven steps, with his recent hattrick taking him on to 48 league goals, so far!
Following that great performance from 'Samurai, I managed to catch up with Morrison to learn more about him and his vision for the future. Here's what he had to say:
Tell us a little about your background, where you grew up, and where you started playing football.
"When I was 18 years old, I received an offer to try out to become a professional. My agent at that time was Mr. Miyahara, the director of London Samurai Rovers. I passed that pro try-out and became a professional. I continued my professional career in Dubai and Singapore, and when I turned 20, I heard that Miyahara has a football team in London. I wanted to go to London because it was where I was born, so I contacted Miyahara. And now I am on this team."
Do you have any role models you looked up to when you were growing up?
"I don't have any role models. I want to follow my own path, my own ideas. I don't think it's good to second-guess or imitate someone else. I don't have a role model because I always want to be better than anyone else."
What clubs have you played for before joining London Samurai Rovers?
"I moved around from one local football team to another until I was 17, when I went to university in the USA and the time I won the league championship at the American university is still a good memory. After staying in the US, I went to Dubai and started my professional career with Al Hilal United and the following season, I played with Albirex Niigata in Singapore before coming to London."
What's your favourite footballing experience or memory?
"It's the best experience of my life now that I'm a top scorer in the UK and trying to set a record."
As I mentioned above, Morrison is currently on 48 league goals, two above Aidan Rutledge (Birtley Town) in the Northern League Division Two, also in step 11.
Do you have any long-term aims within football? How about short-term aims?
"My long-term goal is to be part of the premier league and the short-term goal is to be the one who scores the most this season in England."
At the time of asking, you are on 48 league goals, the highest in the country within the top 11 steps. Was that the target at the beginning of the season? How many goals would you like to finish on this season?
"Being the league's top scorer was my original goal, but I didn't expect to score 48 goals. I hope to get to 70 goals this season."
What's been your favourite match so far this season you've played in?
"The 4-1 win against Hillingdon Borough. I scored a hat-trick, including a free kick and the other goals were beautifully worked."
Thank you Morrison for taking the time to answer our questions, here at NonLeagueHQ we certainly wish you the best for the rest of this season, and throughout your career. We will be watching with interest. I'd also like to thank London Samurai Rovers for their assistence in getting this put together, and suppyling the photography for this piece. They are a classy club that play the game the right way, and I'd urge anyone to go and watch them, should you get the chance.
Their next fixture is away at Hillingdon Borough this Tuesday (7th March), get along and you might just witness Hashii's 50th league goal of the season....
#nonleague #nonleaguefootball #combinedcounties #step11 #londonsamurairovers #topscorer #morrisonhashii #hashii #londonfootball
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