"Customers" have graduated from their position!
Be prepared to win in the battle at Odaira MF 38 Soma ANZAI
A special content introducing all the blue-red warriors challenging the 2024 season. What are the players, who are about to start the season, thinking and what determination are they bringing into the year? The stories of the players, who hold in their hearts their love for the club, their thirst for titles, their aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill──. Soma ANZAI, who was confirmed to join from the 2025 season, has signed a professional contract before the start of the new season. He, who was a teammate of Kuryu MATSUKI at Aomori Yamada High School, has officially become a member of the blue-red squad. A significant decision prompted by the inspiration he received in Tokyo during the 2023 season. In the new season, where he is expected to be utilized not only as a side half but also as a side back, what brilliance will Soma, who has made the determined choice to turn professional, shine with?
Soma ANZAI, who was supposed to join both Waseda University Football Club and FC Tokyo as a JFA/J.League designated player for the 2024 season, officially became a member of the blue and red team earlier than planned. After much consideration on which team's growth would be greater, he chose to join FC Tokyo before the start of the new season in Kodaira.
"Even in college, it's all about soccer. But last season, I was able to play in four games in Tokyo, with fans and supporters in the stands, and there was a tense atmosphere that you can only feel in a professional stadium. Even just one game was unforgettable. I felt a lot of growth there, and my desire to stand on that stage became stronger. In order to stand there, I didn't just want to participate in training for a week, but I wanted to work hard in Koda and earn my position and the right to stand on the pitch."
Last season, we experienced the intense atmosphere of Ajinomoto Stadium twice in the YBC Levain Cup. In the final stages of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, we also experienced "enemy territory" at Sapporo Dome and Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka. Among them, the players who were used in the final league match against Shonan Bellmare showed a fighting spirit that has been inherited by the team for the 2024 season. Of course, Anzai is one of them.
"I thought I understood Peter's soccer last season, and it has been reinforced through the camp. Especially on the sides, intensity is required, but that is also my strength."
He is also a valuable talent who knows "Peter's style". However, the first year is the first year. He is strict with himself, saying "I still can't even join the team" and there is no compromise there. This season, he has found a way to grow by using his flexibility to play both as a side half and a side back, and getting involved in finishing plays while making use of his surroundings.
His opponents, who have just signed a professional contract, are fierce rivals with both achievements and skills. However, without determination and confidence, there is no way to secure a professional contract. Anzai, who has abandoned his role as a "customer", will aim for regular position and league victory with sharp eyes.
"If we can't produce results, the starting lineup (hierarchy) won't be reversed. We want to focus on scoring even in practice matches. We made this decision with great determination, so first we want to be involved in the game. As a member of the team aiming for the title, I want to contribute to victory."
Text by Wataru GOTO (Freelance Writer)
