Grown in the blue and red since his academy days, last season he was selected for the Japan national team along with Kashif BANGNAGANDE and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who both have a strong sense of confidence and awareness.
This year, the two who will turn 23 and 22 say in unison, "We are no longer young. We have to lead the way."
In the second part, we will talk about the results of the team that has been strengthened by the experience of playing for the Japan national team. This season, the men who should be the face of Tokyo are determined to lead the way and pull towards winning the league and titles.
──Please tell us your goals for this season and what kind of season you want to have personally.
Kashif Of course, winning the J1 League. I strongly feel that the younger players need to push forward more and more, and I have a strong desire to take the lead. Coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI also told us, "Each player on the pitch should have the awareness of being like a captain," and I believe that a championship-winning team is one where each player plays responsibly, and a team without weaknesses is strong. I also think that if I am not that kind of player, I should not be playing in matches, so I have to stop thinking of myself as a young player and act as a core member.
Daisuke Until now, I was not good at taking the lead and showing leadership to defend the goal, and I was just focused on playing my own game. But from now on, I have to not only play my own game, but also become a player who can influence those around me, and that is my ideal. It's a battle with myself. If I can remove my limits, I believe I can become a bold, big goalkeeper who can lead the team to victory. I have high expectations for myself in that aspect. I want to challenge myself, grow, and even if I fail at times, I want to do it for the sake of winning.
──What is necessary to win the J1 League and secure the title?
Yoshifumi It is important for the team to keep looking in the same direction. During matches, things don’t always go well, so how much we can discuss and make adjustments on the pitch at those times is crucial. Also, whether we can call out to each other from the sidelines. I believe it is extremely important for the entire team, not just the 11 players on the field, to address challenges together.
Daisuke It's important to come together. Can everyone come together for the sake of victory in a way that's not like licking each other's wounds? Even if it's not beautiful soccer, even if things don't go well, we want to fight together and win. Of course, while following the team's rules, we want to show soccer that excites the fans and supporters. We don't want to be told "We lost, but it was a good game," so we want to play with the goal of winning in mind.
The two who have clearly set their goal for this season as "J1 League Champions" understand that they must take the lead in order to achieve it. Age and career are irrelevant on the pitch. What matters is what they can do to win the next game. It seems that two young and promising leaders will emerge in Tokyo this season.
──For that purpose, what kind of behavior do you want to show?
Taishi I believe I absolutely need to change myself on the pitch. I think there is an image the team expects, and I believe I understand it, so I have to work to get closer to that. This season, I want to aim high in that regard as well.
Yoshifumi FC Tokyo U-18, I was entrusted with the captaincy in my third year of high school, but I don't think it suited my personality. I was supported by everyone around me. However, recently I have been consciously trying to change my character. As a side back, it is the position where I can see the whole pitch the most, so I started to think that I want to connect the team from good defense to good attack, and naturally my voice started to come out. I want to continue doing that this season and do more and more.
──Since the two of you are finally together, please tell us what you expect from each other this season.
Taishi Half joking, half serious, Yoshifu-kun's is "not getting injured" (laughs). Because if you get injured, various plans fall apart.
Yoshifu That's right. I've never finished a season without getting injured, and that's what a lot of people tell me. It's what I believe the most, and if I can do that, I have confidence that I can achieve better results, so I want to focus on that and keep going.
Taishi Come on, I want you to attack and defend like crazy.
Yoshifu This season, we're going to do it! I want to focus on numbers, so please look forward to it. So, I want Daishi to focus on keeping a clean sheet. I'm a defender, so I want to do it together, but last season Daishi saved me a lot, so I'll do my best to avoid any dangerous situations, but if it's really necessary, I'll be like "Daishi, please" (laughs).
Taishi I will do my best to become a goalkeeper who can stop such scenes.
──Now, finally, please tell us your thoughts and hopes for this season.
Taishi I am always aiming for titles. Since we haven't been able to win titles recently, I don't think we have the presence of a champion yet, but I want people to see how we carry ourselves as we strive to win each match in front of us. I want the fans and supporters to say, "I'm glad I came to watch," and "That was exciting." I want to continue playing such matches and make this a season where we ultimately seize the championship.
Yoshifu I want to win every game in front of me, no matter what the content is. We have to focus on the results and show the fans and supporters that we are aiming for the championship through our play. As Daishi also said, I want the fans to come and enjoy watching exciting games and plays.
The first part is here
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
