This is a record of life.
At the age of 10, I tightly clenched my trembling hand in my pocket and jumped into an unknown city.
Dream chasers have continued to challenge in order to seize the rolling future.
What I saw beyond the possibilities was my current self.
The ace of the sleepless city keeps running.
If you don't give up, your dreams will come true.
The rolling ball, because it taught me.
Boy who admired the RO-RO combination
Diego OLIVEIRA was in a tight spot.
As a teenager, I was in a desperate situation, unable to even make it to the starting line, let alone become a professional soccer player.
Becoming famous in street soccer, being scouted by people from a club who have heard rumors, or being approached by an agent and joining a club through their introduction. This is the typical way of rising up in the soccer kingdom.
However, in the case of Diego, it was different.
"I was waiting for a chance while playing at a local soccer school, but the offers didn't come and I became a high school student. I started to think that it might be difficult to become a professional due to my age. However, I never wanted to give up..."
Born as the youngest of four siblings in Curitiba, known as the most livable city in Brazil's southern region.
"I have an older brother, Vinicius, who is 7 years older than me, and an older sister, Natalia, who is 3 years older. We also have another sister, Camila. Camila and I are twins. I was born 2 minutes after Camila, so I am the younger brother and she is the older sister."
Vinicius's older brother was a promising player who belonged to the local soccer club, Parana Club's youth team. The first birthday present a boy receives from his parents is a soccer ball - that's how it is in Brazil. When Diego was old enough to understand, he would chase after his brother and kick the ball around.
"The idol at the time was the RO-RO combo. Romario and Ronaldo. Of course, I also admired my brother Vinicius."
While playing at a local soccer school, Diego Taba felt inferior to his teammates who were seizing opportunities, but he continued to kick the ball relying on the light of his own dreams. The turning point for Diego came when he was 16 years old.
Diego TABA, who started playing futsal when he entered high school, participated in the famous futsal tournament in Curitiba and won. Two of his teammates were invited to the selection for Parana Club, and luckily Diego was also able to take the test with them.
"Then, only I passed. So I ended up playing for the Paraña Club youth team from the age of 17. Finally, I got my chance. I was so happy. I will become a professional with this team. That's what I thought."
Dream Chasers' Decision
Diego, who used to play as a FW in the soccer school, played as a midfielder in Parana Club. It's hard to imagine from his current appearance, but Diego laughs and says, "I used to mark the opponent's number 10 and just chase after the ball."
However, people will eventually find their rightful place. In one game, Diego TABA, who was substituted for an injured player, was used in the front line and scored two goals there.
"That's why I switched to being a FW, feeling good about it."
At the age of 18, he also participated in the largest youth tournament in Brazil, the São Paulo Cup. He had more opportunities to train with professional players and seemed to be steadily approaching his dream. However, something unexpected happened.
"When I turned 18 to 19, I couldn't make it to the top team and couldn't become a professional at Paraná Club."
It is realistically difficult for a player who missed promotion to the top at Parana Club, which is not a big club, to sign a contract with another club in Brazil.
However, Diego did not give up. He clung to his dream. He decided to become a professional in a foreign country instead of Brazil.
"It's Qatar. My agent who was supporting me introduced me. He said there's a chance in the second division league in Qatar. I was surprised. I didn't know what Qatar was like, so I was worried. But if I don't go to Qatar, I can't become a professional. I told myself that this is a chance."
In 2009, 19-year-old Diego packed his daily necessities, dreams, and hopes into a suitcase and headed to a desert country.
Now, as a country that has hosted the World Cup for 22 years, there is no shortage of efforts to strengthen and improve the environment. The national team has become the Asian champion and there are also many clubs, including Al Sadd, that have advanced to the top in the AFC Champions League.
However, Diego's destination across the sea was Al-Misaimer, which had just been officially promoted to the second division in September of the previous year.
"The level of football was not high and the environment was not good. I had imagined it, but honestly, I was surprised. In addition, there were difficulties with language, religion, food, and climate. But I wanted to make the most of this opportunity. It was the path I chose. It was difficult, but I learned a lot. I think I was able to grow as a person in Qatar."
Late blooming talent
After spending 2 years in Qatar, Diego returned to Brazil as a professional football player and joined Noroeste. Later, he received an offer from South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings and once again jumped into an unknown world.
"I didn't have any worries because I had already lived abroad. Besides, it was a very attractive offer. The treatment towards me was good and I also received money from Noroestche. So, I headed back to Asia for a 6-month temporary transfer."
However, Kelly was unable to make an impact as a foreign player in the K League. In fact, he was hardly seen on the pitch. This was due to an injury.
Sports hernia. This was the name of the disease that plagued Diego TABA at the time. He only played in three games and had to return home after the six-month transfer period passed. After returning home, he received treatment at a clinic in his hometown of Curitiba, and it took another four months for the pain to subside.
After that, Diego, who had moved around to Noroeste, Bahia, Audax, Novorizontino, Boa, and Linense, finally saw the light of day when he joined Ponte Preta in the Brazilian first division in 2015.
Diego, who once shone as the J2 top scorer at Vegalta Sendai and was also selected for the Brazilian national team in 2011, has won the position battle against Borges and has shown remarkable performances as an attacking midfielder and winger.
"Taking the position from Borges gave me confidence. At the time, I was 25 years old. It was a time when I was at my peak as a soccer player. This performance led to offers from Ponte Preta and other teams, and I also received offers for contract extensions."
One of them was from the J-League's Kashiwa Reysol.
"My agent had experience playing in Japan, and I had heard a lot of good things about Japanese football from my teammates, including Borges. Also, I was used to challenging myself by leaving Brazil, so I didn't hesitate to want to play in Japan."
Never give up!!
Two years later, Diego will have the opportunity to wear the blue and red uniform.
"I was very happy. Actually, I had received offers from other teams as well. I chose FC Tokyo because I felt they were a good team to play against and because they are a club in the capital. When I actually came here, my teammates and club staff were warm, and the fans and supporters were passionate. I feel a great sense of fulfillment. Personally, coming to Tokyo and being given the role of a striker, I can feel myself growing."
There is no need to mention his subsequent success. Without Diego, FC Tokyo's front line is beyond imagination.
Looking back on his career, Diego said, "I think I was also lucky."
"I often feel like God has helped me. I am who I am now thanks to God."
But, as Diego continued.
"I also have pride in the effort I have put in. After school, I have been practicing every day, and even in my teens, I have worked hard in Qatar and Korea, using any difficulties as motivation. I believe that I am here now because I never gave up, that's what I think."
Diego has two dreams now.
"One thing is for sure, I want to win the title in Tokyo. The chance to win the first league championship that players, team staff, and fans/supporters have been waiting for is right in front of us. And if I can contribute to that, it would be amazing. Another thing is that I want to continue playing in Japan for as long as possible. Of course, I and my family love living in Japan. It would be the best if I could keep playing in Tokyo for a long time."
After falling from the top spot once, FC Tokyo fought back and regained the top spot after Sec. 31. No matter how tough the game was, they fought with perseverance and steadily accumulated points. Never give up - that is the essence of Diego Taba's football career this season.
◇Diego OLIVEIRA Profile
Kazunori Iino : interpreter
text by Atsushi Iio
photo by Kenichi Arai,Masahito Sasaki
