1st year of diligent daily efforts
The second act of the story is finally beginning.
Kuryu Matsuki dominated the high school soccer world at Aomori Yamada High School and made a leap into the professional stage. In his rookie year last season, he secured a starting position in the opening match with his energetic play and continued to be a key player. In the end, he played in 32 J1 League matches and scored 2 goals.
Behind the brilliant debut, he had been building up his skills day by day. After the team practice, he continued to work on the basics of "stopping and kicking" throughout the year, and if he had any doubts, he would consult his seniors or coaches. What drove him was an insatiable desire for improvement.
It was the last match of last season. Yojiro TAKAHAGI, who sought opportunities to shine at Tochigi SC last summer, was visiting the match as a spectator. After the match, Matsuki saw TAKAHAGI chatting with his teammates and asked for advice on his own play. TAKAHAGI, feeling a little confused, replied, "Don't ask me," but then said, "I was watching from above, so it's not like this or that, but I thought Matsuki's ambition to improve was amazing," and he said.
Lessons from Yuto Nagatomo
It should have been a continuous process of learning and realization precisely because he is a player with high sensitivity. It was "significant" to have spent time with Yuto NAGATOMO, who had been saying "I want to hear your story" even before turning professional, and he continues as follows.
"An amazing person even from the sidelines. It was a significant year for me to be able to see it up close. It was a valuable year where I learned not only from their high level of consciousness during the game, but also from other aspects."
After such a fulfilling year, he said, "Both as a team and as an individual, I have grown in this past year. Although I haven't achieved visible results, I have deeply felt the importance of this season and there have been some really good things."
That glare doesn't know how to settle down at all. In my second year as a pro, even this season, since the start of the team, I have to teach the juniors various things. The seniors who have led me so far have gone to different clubs, so I hope I can lead the team as I had many opportunities to play last season. I want to be in a more intense condition and mindset than the new players.
Approaching with such enthusiasm, the pre-season camp began to exude an air of dignity. Leading the younger teammates who reminded me of myself a year ago, I have been boosting the team by saying, "Follow me." From this season, I will wear the number 7 on my back.
"Wearing a young number also creates a sense of responsibility. Being entrusted with a single-digit number means that I have to be a key player. Such things also serve as my motivation. When I wore the number 7 during Yamada's time in Aomori and performed well, I personally wanted to wear the number 7. I want to make my own number because thinking too much about the pressure of wearing the number 7 doesn't work well."
Expectations for oneself: "I'm already skyrocketing"
The progress of growth does not stop. Since last season, he has been entrusted with the role of set piece kicker and has been working on extra practice sessions with Coach Yukihiko SATO. The results are starting to show clearly. He may attract attention as a new weapon for the team this season.
It seems that he only looks up, but he can firmly focus on his feet. That's why he can draw a growth curve that keeps going up. Coach Albert also doesn't hesitate to give praise, saying, "Sooner or later, he will be called up to the Japanese national team."
The bundle of ambition said to oneself, as always, like this.
"I don't want to lose, and I think individual improvement is necessary to make Tokyo a better team. I want to contribute to that as well. I want to live each day firmly without breaking my competitive mentality."
And when asked about the team for this season and expectations for himself, he laughed and said, "I'm already on fire."
When Nagatomo said to me, "We promised to go together to the next World Cup, right? Kuryu is definitely going, so it's up to me, right?" I replied without hesitation, "Yes. Let's go together."
This man might be the one to ignite Tokyo, the J-League, and the next Japanese national team.
Text by Tadashi BABA (Freelance Writer)
