Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE. After many years as "allies" from U-15 Fukagawa, they will once again don the same uniform in Tokyo this season. After being promoted to the top team, KIMURA has grown through a series of loan transfers, becoming a key player for the U-23 Japan national team in the Paris Olympic generation last season, returning to the red and blue after gaining international experience. On the other hand, BANGNAGANDE honed his skills in Tokyo and made his debut for the A national team in March 2023. Although he could not participate in the main tournament of the Paris Olympics due to injury, he has evolved into a standout presence on the pitch. The two, who have walked different paths, will reunite in the 2025 season after each has evolved. What will both players think anew? In the first part, they discussed their memories from the time apart and the performances expected from academy graduates.
──I think we both had various experiences in different places last season. What kind of season was it for you?
Seiji KIMURA There were both happy and frustrating moments. Behind the victory at the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and the participation in the Paris Olympics, my loan spell at Sagan Tosu ended in disappointing results. I think it's quite rare to have such extreme experiences in the same season. I believe it was a state where my mental state was easily affected, but even so, being able to continue playing throughout the season and receiving support from various people was a very good experience.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE I had a frustrating season. I think the first half of the season was very smooth since the opening. I was able to participate in league matches at the best pace ever, and I believe I had the highest number of goals and assists in my appearances. However, I got injured at a crucial moment, and honestly, I regret that the injury did not heal completely and lingered on.
──Do you feel the changes in each other after reuniting for the first time in a while?
Kimura I haven't played together since returning to Tokyo, so there are many things I don't know, but I think it hasn't changed much in private.
Yoshifumi It doesn't feel like we haven't met in a while.
Kimura I haven't seen you much for a whole year...
Yoshifumi That's right. We hardly meet. We only contact each other occasionally.
Kimura I didn't keep in touch frequently, but when I came back, it felt like we were always together as usual, so I don't really feel that much has changed.
──Over the past year apart, there must be some changes in yourself. What kind of image do you want to show each other?
Kimura I think my positioning during build-up play, the choice of when to pass, and how to carry the ball have improved a lot since last season, and I believe I can show plays that make people think, "You've gotten better." What surprised me was that Yasukun (Yasuki KIMOTO) also said the same thing. He asked me, "I felt like your build-up play has really improved at Tosu and with the national team, but where did you learn that?" That made me realize, "I have improved." It was definitely a point that made me happy and gave me confidence. When I return and can play together, if I am on the left center-back, I will definitely want to line up next to him. I want to make him feel that it has become easier than before.
Kashifu I would really appreciate it (laughs). I feel like I have grown in my play, and I can now feel a sense of calm and composure during matches, which I believe I have really developed. I also feel that my range of play has expanded a bit, but since I haven't been able to play soccer for about seven months, I don't know what will happen when I return. However, personally, I think I have been able to grow in that aspect, so I am looking forward to it.
──Although I am being modest, the play just before the injury was truly wonderful to watch, and while there was a strong offensive image, the contribution to defense also increased significantly. This time, I think I can support Kimura in defense as well.
Yoshifumi That's right. However, whether I can be helped in defense is... (laughs).
Kimura It would be great if I didn't have to cover anymore (laughs). But it was that good. After all, I was concerned about the Tokyo matches and watched them from time to time.
──This season, nearly half of the top team is made up of players from Tokyo's academy. This is an unprecedented number in the past. Among them, the two who are exactly in the middle generation, how do you want to lead this team?
Yoshifumi The one at the top is Kento (Kento HASHIMOTO), and below him is Go (Go HATANO)…….
Kimura So, Tsubasa-kun (Tsubasa TERAYAMA) is there, and we are... Everyone is skilled, right? The question is how much we can keep each other from slacking off on the pitch while not slacking off ourselves. Everyone has high abilities, so they must have been promoted to the current team. As for the care of those from the academy... I don't think we are in a position to take care of them yet.
Kashifu We should be able to demonstrate our attitude. If we can play in the matches and become central to the team, I believe it will naturally lead to us leading the team.
Kimura It's definitely easier to convey than words. I see my seniors and juniors from the academy working hard. To make them think, 'I want to do my best too!', the best way is to perform well in the matches.
──I am a little surprised not only by Taiyo YAMAGUCHI and Wataru GOTO, who were promoted this season, but also by the academy players participating in the camp and playing freely. Looking back on your first year as a professional and the time you participated in practice, how do you see it?
Kimura You were really nervous, right? (laughs). During your first year and when you were a trainee.
Kashifu I think it's amazing to see them playing freely there. I sometimes regret being timid myself. That's why, when academy players participate in practice, I've always encouraged them to "just go for it." I was conscious of that, so I believe it's good that we can create an environment where they can play freely without worrying. However, we must never forget the strictness of the top team that we observed during our academy days. I want to show them, "This is the top team," while also encouraging them to not be afraid and to push themselves within that context. I think we, as academy graduates, can relate to them more easily, so I want to continue to engage with them as much as possible.
──Once again, what kind of coach is Rikizo MATSUHASHI?
Yoshifumi I haven't had a long time to talk yet, but listening to the meeting, my first impression was that he is a very honest person. It's hard to express, but I get the impression that he is a serious person who has no facade, thinks deeply about things, and sincerely engages in conversation with others.
Kimura The things that Mr. Rikuzou wants to convey are very easy to understand. He communicates with great care. In the past few seasons, we have had foreign coaches, but I believe that the strength of Japanese coaches lies in their communication skills, and perhaps Mr. Rikuzou's ability to convey messages adds to that. Personally, I wondered, "Why do we use so much honorific language?" The meetings were also in honorifics, right?
Kashifu I might not have been that aware of it.
Kimura speaks to all the players in respectful language. Therefore, there is no pressure felt. I think that is a factor that allows us to play freely. I don't know if it's intentional, but he is really very polite, and the coach mentioned that he is "nervous" about the new challenges, so I thought he is an honest person. He comes down to our level, makes eye contact, and says that we can say anything to him, which makes it easy to talk to him. I believe he is a coach who is easy to approach if something comes up. He doesn't intimidate people, and the atmosphere during practice never becomes negative, which I think is due to Mr. Rikuzou's personality.
Continued in the next part
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
