"The (Osim's) serious condition will impact the World Cup qualifying campaign," said the Sports Nippon daily. The Nikkan Sports reported that "only Osim's right hand was slightly moving."
Saburo Kawabuchi, the football association's president, said on Friday he could not talk about the future as Osim's condition was "very unstable." "I just want coach Osim to get well no matter how ...I hope he survives."
National coach Ivica Osim remained in intensive care a night after suffering a stroke that left the nation stunned, the Japan Football Association announced on Saturday evening.
The 66-year-old Osim, who collapsed at his home in Chiba after 2 a.m. Friday, is being kept unconscious by doctors at the Juntendo Urayasu Hospital in an effort to stabilize his condition, according to JFA general secretary Kozo Tashima, who caught a glimpse of the Bosnian in the ICU.
Tashima, nevertheless, did not divulge further specifics of Osim's condition at the wishes of his wife Asima and son Amar, who refused to release added information apart from the fact that it took at least an hour for Osim to be rushed to the hospital after his collapse.
In accordance with hospital policy, Juntendo also does not hold press conferences regarding its patients. Amar, the JEF United Chiba coach, conducted scheduled training for the second straight day.
"Mr. Osim is still in the ICU as of today," Tashima said during a press briefing. "His family does not want to hold a press conference and does not want to reveal anything more, nor does the hospital.
"The situation has not changed as of yesterday. As you all know, being in the ICU is not something to be optimistic about. He has not improved, and he has not gotten worse. Doctors are keeping him unconscious to reduce his stress level.
"If I had positive news to give, I would. But we have to respect the decisions of his family."
Tashima said at least two JFA staff will be at the hospital 24 hours a day. Osim's assistants, including former FC Tokyo coach Kiyoshi Okuma, also remain at his side.
Regardless of whether Osim can make a full recovery or not, it is unlikely that he will be ready to take the helm by February, when Japan plays its first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup.
In baseball, Japan manager Shigeo Nagashima suffered a stroke in March 2004 at the age of 68. The Yomiuri Giants legend did not return in time for the Athens Olympics that August.
Already, names of a potential successor are being whispered, such as Gamba Osaka manager Akira Nishino and Japan's 1998 World Cup coach Takeshi Okada, who has experience taking over the national team in the middle of a qualifying campaign.
Tashima on Saturday said no discussion of a coaching switch has been held inside the JFA. And if it were, the brainstorming would be done by the technical committee.
"I'm aware what is on the minds of everyone, but right now, I'm not thinking about that at all," said Tashima, the JFA's ex-technical chief. "What we want more than anything is for him to regain his health.