FORMER Southend United defender Dan Matsuzaka is dreaming of lining up at a home Olympics next summer.

The Tokyo games have been delayed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Matsuzaka is determined to try and make that work in his favour.

“It would be a massive dream come true for me and it’s something that I’ve been aiming for for quite some time,” said the centre-back.

“It motivates me everyday to push even harder to have this end goal in my mind but being honest I am far off making the team at the minute.

“But I have more time to try and make it now and everyone knows how quickly things can change in a year of football.”

Matsuzaka - whose father was born in Japan - came through the youth ranks at Roots Hall - and made one appearance for the first team before leaving in 2018.

But the 22-year-old, who had most recently been playing for Braintree Town in National League South - knows he must be featuring higher up the football pyramid if he is to work his way back into contention.

“I will have to be playing near the top end of the English pyramid to have a chance,” said Matsuzaka.

“I am going to do everything I can to keep moving up the ladder and will continue to strive to make my goals a reality.”

Matsuzaka has previously represented Japan at under 19 level.

And he also spent time playing club football in the land of the rising sun immediately after leaving the Shrimpers.

“After being released from Southend I flew out to Japan two weeks afterwards and went on trial at a few clubs,” said the defender.

“I signed for a team called Kataller Toyama but I came back to England in December 2018 and I’ve been playing here since.”

Matsuzaka has also featured for Sutton United but he remains grateful for his time at Southend United.

“It was a period of time where I really grew as a person as well as a footballer I feel,” said Matsuzaka.

“It was my first real taste of being a full time footballer which helped me to experience the good and the bad that comes with football.

“I enjoyed being there and I met some really good people as well.”