Intro:

Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui returns to the New York Yankees as a coach (11th March).

Script:

SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees Special Adviser To The General Manager:

(on the challenges of his new role)

"As much as it is a challenge for the players to develop themselves, this is also a challenge for myself and I have never forgotten that attitude from my playing days. So I hope that there is something that I can also learn from this. It will be a process for me to feel out what my specialty will be. What I can do to contribute. But that's the attitude I will be taking."

SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Cashman, New York Yankees General Manager:

(on what Hideki Matsui can bring to his new role with the Yankees)

"We will take as much of Hideki as we can get. He clearly is truly a giant Yankee, you know obviously coming from the Yomiuri Giants to the New York Yankees, so probably more so than any Yankee in our history the title fits him best as a Yankee. So obviously the respect factor for Hideki is worldwide."

SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hideki Matsui, New York Yankees Special Adviser To The General Manager:

(joking on how we wants to develop in his position with the Yankees)

"I'd like to once again thank the Yankees for this opportunity. As you know, my position will be as an adviser to Brian (Cashman). Hopefully and I can perform in that position without having my special interpreter that's next to me."