Leaders Kashiwa focusing on own task

November proved a depressing month for Kashiwa Reysol two years ago as they were relegated from the J.League. And though the Sun Kings bounced back up at the first time of asking, few gave them a hope of being in the J.League title picture at this late stage of the season. Yet Nelsinho Baptista’s team are not just in the race with three laps remaining; they are leading it, two points above Gamba Osaka and with defending champions Nagoya Grampus a point further back in third. And though Kashiwa got their hands on the trophy in 1999, this time it will be accompanied by an additional, almighty prize: a place alongside, among others, the Lionel Messi-spearheaded Barcelona and a Santos side including teenage phenomenon Neymar at next month’s FIFA Club World Cup. The Chiba outfit have an examining run-in on paper. First up is Sunday’s trip to Shimizu S-Pulse, who are in seventh and chasing a seventh game without defeat, before the visit of mid-table Cerezo Osaka and, finally, a match away to Urawa Red Diamonds, giants who are struggling to stay in the top flight. Momentum is nevertheless in Kashiwa’s favour. Indeed, with Jorge Wanger and Leandro Domingues – two playmakers from the state of Bahia in Brazil – excelling, a 4-0 thrashing of Albirex Niigata last time out made it maximum points from a possible 12. "Motivation for the players and myself is extremely high, but we have to prepare for each game as it comes," said Nelsinho Baptista. "Next we have S-Pulse, and they are a very good team who have been playing well recently. "But our destiny is in our own hands. We are top, so if we continue to win our games then we will be champions. We are not looking at what the other teams are doing. It's up to us to do our own job." Gamba and Nagoya both have away dates tomorrow. The former take on struggling Albirex Niigata, while the latter are at fourth-placed Yokohama F Marinos.