Goulburn Valley Suns sign Asian import as early start to 2025 Victorian Premier League Two season looms

By Liam Nash

Dec 5, 2024

Goulburn Valley Suns have signed Japanese midfielder Hideyuki Ochi for the 2025 VPL2 season. Photo: Meiji University.

With no time to waste Goulburn Valley Suns have put pen to paper on its Asian visa slot for next season.

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The Suns won’t have many weeks to shed the Christmas timber next year as the 2025 Victorian Premier League Two season fixture has revealed a notably early start, catering for an increased 14-team division.

And after last week’s confirmation of English imports Tommy Blennerhassett and Danny Edwards to complement the earlier news of Christos Papakonstantinou’s commitment, the fourth and final foreign cast member is in.

His name is Hideyuki Ochi.

Ochi first beat the round ball path at JEF United Ichihara Chiba in the J2 league — Japan’s second tier — and later entered Meiji University’s football program.

There, he became a silverware magnet, winning four trophies in 2019 and one in 2020 during a storied four-year stint.

Ochi went on to play for AFC Ann Arbor in the United States before returning to his home nation to play for Vertfee Yaita and eventually Tokyo 23, the club he signed with the Suns from.

Previously described as a cool-headed midfielder capable of playing in the six or eight roles, Ochi is expected to bring drive and composure to a new-look Suns engine room next season.

The side prepares for a VPL2 competition that has aligned with VPL1 and NPL competitions to feature a 26-week, 14-team competition running for seven months.

Up first for the Orangemen is Boroondara Eagles on February 8 at McEwen Reserve, with the season concluding on August 24 against fresh VPL2 entrant Whittlesea United.

Other clubs new to the division for 2025 are Werribee City, North Geelong Warriors, Geelong Soccer Club, Springvale White Eagles and Eltham Redbacks.