TOKYO >> Tatsuya Enomoto, a former goalkeeper for FC Tokyo in the J.League’s first division, has been selected to play as a goalie on Japan’s blind soccer team.

It is hoped that having an experienced former J.League player on the team will give the national squad a leg up in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

“I’m learning what blind soccer is and searching for ways I can contribute,” the 38-year-old Eno­moto said at a training camp in Chiba in early May.

He spent the time getting to know the national team players and staff, attempting to kick a ball while blindfolded and otherwise trying to familiarize himself with a soccer world different from what he has known.

Blind soccer teams have five players each, with only goalies allowed to be a fully sighted person. Leading countries have used professional futsal and handball players as goalkeepers before.

Enomoto, who retired after last season, played 223 games in the J1 division and helped the Yokohama F Marinos win back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004.

Satoshi Takada, coach of the national blind soccer team, had high praise for his new goalie.

“He uses very little preparatory motion and is able to make saves on shots with instantaneous reactions,” he said. “His defensive range is vast because of his 190-centimeter height. I’m glad we got him right after he retired.”

Blind soccer became an official Paralympic event at the 2004 Games in Athens, but Japan has never fielded a team. Takada has a coaching license from the Japan Football Association, and said he wants to close the gap with the best national teams by incorporating drills and tactics from soccer played by nondisabled people.

Enomoto says he wants to shoot for a medal.

“Since I’ve decided to do this, I want to be able to give 100 percent of my strength as a player,” he said. “If I can work with my teammates to improve our skills and eventually play (in the Paralympics), I think that would be amazing.”