Hikaru Minegishi


Hikaru Minegishi, also known by his nickname Pika, is a Filipino footballer who last played mainly as a winger for Ceres–Negros of the Philippines Football League.

Early life and education

Minegishi was born on June 5, 1991. His Filipino mother is a native of Olongapo while his father is Japanese. He studied at the Seiwa Gakuen High School for his secondary studies and later attended the Sendai University for his collegiate studies.

Career

Youth

Minegishi was part of the youth system of the Urawa Red Diamonds. He also played as part of the football team of Sendai University.

Club

Global Cebu

Fellow Filipino-Japanese, Daisuke Sato invited Minegishi to play club football in the Philippines. In early 2015, Global F.C. of the United Football League had signed Minegishi. Minegishi scored 17 goals in 17 league matches for Global in the 2016 UFL season reportedly by October 5, 2016. He was awarded the Golden Ball at the end of the season. Minegishi ended his stint with Global Cebu with a runner-up finish at the inaugural season of the Philippine Football League in 2017.

Pattaya United

He moved to Pattaya United F.C. and will form part of the club starting in the 2018 Thai League 1 season.

International career

Philippines

By November 5, 2016, Minegishi was processing his Philippine passport for him to be eligible to play for the Philippines national football team.
Minegishi made his debut for the Philippines in their first group stage match against Singapore, coming on as a half-time substitute. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. In the next group stage match where the Philippines settled for a 2-2 draw with Indonesia, Minegishi made his first international start.
On 22 March 2018, Minegishi scored his debut international goal for the Philippines, scoring the Azkals' second goal in a 3-2 friendly win over Fiji.

International Goals