Q, before talking about joining Tokyo, please tell us about your time in Sendai, where you played for 2 and a half years after coming to Japan for the first time.
A, For me and my family, living in Sendai was a very happy experience. We received a lot of support from the fans and supporters in Sendai. I have only good memories. I am grateful to the club staff, and I still remember the debut match against Cerezo Osaka. Of course, there were also matches against Tokyo, and I have only happy memories.
Q, the press release from Sendai included the loving words "Let's meet again in J1 for sure." Player Kubo (nickname for Słowik) will continue to fight on the J1 stage as a member of Tokyo from here.
A, I am of course disappointed with the result of Sendai's relegation to J2 in the 2021 season. However, I approached everything from practice to games with full effort. In the midst of that, I was very happy to receive an offer from Tokyo, a big club in Japan, and I want to win many things with my teammates at this club.
Q: What was your impression of Tokyo as an opponent?
A: In the 2019 season, when I first came to Japan, Tokyo was in the championship race. I have the impression of them being a strong team at the top of the standings. They are also a team where quality players consistently perform well in matches.
Q: In the 2021 season, Tokyo won two matches against Sendai, but in both games, Kuba's big saves stood out.
A: I remember (laughs). However, in the end, Sendai lost. We did our best, but Tokyo has a lineup of high-quality players, which led to that result.
Q, Who is the most memorable player among Tokyo players?
A, It's Diego (Oliveira). I have a strong impression of him because I had two penalty shootouts against him. His way of taking penalties is unique, and I really think he is a skilled player. It's a difficult way of shooting from the perspective of a goalkeeper, but now we are on the same team, so I feel like I can adapt to any style by practicing with him (laughs).
Q: There are excellent GKs in Tokyo, but what is your impression of the level of GKs in Japan?
A: Of course, there are capable GKs in Tokyo, and Kosei TANI from Shonan is also a wonderful talent. Keisuke OSAKO from Hiroshima and Yuma OBATA, who played in Sendai, are the same. I have the impression that there are more promising players full of potential. There is no doubt that the quality of GKs in Japan is improving.
Q, Poland, the home country of player Kubo, has produced many great goalkeepers such as Jerzy Dudek and Wojciech Szczesny. Former Iwata player Krzysztof Kaminski also had a successful career.
A, That is very important in the Polish football world. Many goalkeepers have played for big clubs in Europe and continue to do so. In addition to the mentioned players, there are also great goalkeepers like Artur Boruc (played with Nakamura Shunsuke at Celtic and with Yoshida Maya at Southampton) and Lukasz Fabianski. Kaminski's outstanding achievements in Japan led to my decision to come to Japan as well. I also want to demonstrate the skills of Polish goalkeepers in Tokyo.
Q, by the way, at what age did Kubo start playing as a GK?
A, it's a long time ago... (laughs), I think it was around 5 or 6 years old. My older brother started playing soccer first, and since I was the youngest, I ended up being the GK. Everyone didn't like being a GK because they had to fall down when making saves or fall from high places, but for me, it was normal and didn't bother me. After that, I also had experience playing as a defender. I was a member of a big academy, but my playing style wasn't very technical (laughs), so the coach recommended me to try being a GK. Getting GK gloves also became one motivation for me, and since then, I've been solely a GK.
Q: I thought that being a GK was a popular position in Poland because there are many famous GKs.
A: I think children in any country all want to be strikers at first (laughs). When players like Dudek and Boruc were active, GKs also became popular, but when you think of Poland, you think of Robert Lewandowski. That's why I think many players aspire to be forwards.
Q, looking at your career, you have played for domestic clubs in Poland, but I read news that you were close to signing with Reading in England in 2015.
A, at that time, I went for a test for about a week. However, the team's goalkeeper position was already filled, and shortly after that, I also got injured, so the conversation didn't progress as I had hoped. However, I always had the desire to test my potential and skills overseas, so Japan became the first stage for that. I had held onto that desire since my time in Poland.
Q, After playing in the J-League for 2 and a half years, do you see any differences in the image of Japanese soccer between when you first came to Japan and now?
A, In my opinion, Japan is a wonderful country and league. I can't speak for other Asian countries, but I think it's a great league.
Q: Tokyo will be led by Coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA in the 2022 season. He was in charge of Albirex Niigata until the 2021 season, but have you seen any of Coach Albert's team's matches?
A: I have watched a few matches from his time in Niigata. I checked to see what kind of football he plays and what kind of play is expected. I got the impression of a style that connects the ball, and I think there will be a demand for build-up play from the GK and DF. Originally, the role of the GK was to protect the goal and stop shots, but in today's era, there are many more demands from that position. This includes foot skills and kicking. In Tokyo's new style, it is likely that many such skills will be required. My approach is to absorb, learn, and enhance what is required from practice. I want to tackle this with a positive attitude so that I can adapt well.
Q, Tokyo had a lot of goals conceded in 2021, which was a challenge. Fans and supporters expect the most from player Kuba in terms of shot-stopping, but how do you want to improve the defense, including the DF line?
A, no team can defend the goal with just one person, nor can one person score all the goals. Everyone from the FW to the GK must attack and defend together. In my case, I want to communicate more with the DF and specifically ensure that we can defend while maintaining a compact formation.
Q, Do you have any clear goals you want to achieve with this team?
A, I don't usually set personal goals, but first and foremost, as a team, I want us to firmly face in the right direction and produce results. And if we can win more trophies, that would be great. But first and foremost, we want to become a group that fights well and that the fans and supporters can be proud of and say, "It's a really good team." The players must continue to play in a way that such words come from various places.
Q, What are you looking forward to when living in Tokyo, the capital of Japan?
A, Tokyo is truly a metropolis and an amazing city globally. My family is also looking forward to it, but what's important is being able to always be with my family no matter where we are. One thing I'm looking forward to is that it will be closer to go to Disneyland than from Sendai (laughs). I'm also looking forward to other famous places. I love Japanese food, sushi and yakiniku are the best. Natto? It was not good when I first tried it, but gradually (laughs).
text by YUKI NISHIKAWA
