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On the 7th day of the Okinawa Itoman camp, practice included scoring from a free pass at the Itoman Nishizaki Athletic Stadium and confirming set plays. Considering the fatigue accumulated so far, time was also allocated for warm-ups using various types of balls.
At the beginning of the camp, when I told coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI, "The practice is interesting," he laughed and said, "It's just that you're not used to it. On the contrary, please tell me if it becomes uninteresting."
There have been hardly any identical training menus throughout this camp, and we have instilled different objectives in each session. Therefore, the ability to think and make judgments in actual match situations and scenarios should have been cultivated.
At the same time, it felt like the daily practices were independent, yet there was also a sense of connection. I could clearly see the players' daily reactions and changes in response to the messages conveyed by the coach. How these things will connect after the season starts begins from here.
Through this camp, we have become a group that wants to "grow" and "change ourselves." However, Coach Matsuhashi says, "I try not to think that this is good enough on a daily basis. I am thinking about how to improve further from here." The blue-red team has no intention of stopping their progress, saying, "Not yet" and "More and more."
FOCUS ON
The official photographer selects camp photos in the project "FOCUS ON." On the 7th day of the Okinawa Itoman camp, a four-shot featuring Masato MORISHIGE, Yuto NAGATOMO, Keigo HIGASHI, and Teruhito NAKAGAWA was chosen. They are in their thirties, but still energetic and fresh. Burning with freshly picked ambition, they continue to face soccer every day. Even as they pursue their own paths as seekers of truth, their goal is to achieve their first league title in Tokyo. While they intend to share their story, it is well known that these four will lead the blue and red this season as well.
CAMP VOICE vol.17 Masato MORISHIGE
This season marks the 20th anniversary of Masato MORISHIGE's career as a professional player. With only 10 matches remaining until his 500th appearance in the J1 League, Masato MORISHIGE has set "Continued Glaring" and "Blazing" as his personal goals for the season, continuing from last season. He intends to spread the raw flames outward without holding back in the 2025 season. We heard his honest feelings about aiming for the first J1 League championship, promised with the blue and red singers, wearing the number 3 jersey.
Q: I joined the camp halfway through, but how is the progress so far?
A, since this is still the introductory phase, I believe the team will grow through repeated trial and error in various aspects from here. When problems arise, if we can think about and build the style of football that Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI aims for, we can create an interesting style of football and become an interesting team. The future is important, and the current evaluation is not everything. Honestly, there is still little we understand, so how we proceed from here will be crucial.
Q: Coach Matsuhashi frequently communicated about the mindset and attitude towards soccer throughout the camp.
A, Coach Matsuhashi not only talked about the content of soccer but also addressed attitudes toward soccer and how one should be as a person before being a soccer player during meetings. I think this is important since it is a team sport. It's not enough to just focus on soccer itself; I felt that these aspects are connected to what happens on the pitch, and the spirit of fighting through this season together as a team was conveyed by Coach Matsuhashi. He communicates even the subtle nuances, making it easy for us to understand.
Q: There were moments not only of a bright atmosphere but also where we challenged each other strictly.
A. You should actively do what is necessary. No one should hold back or be overly considerate of others. We need to make demands that match the higher level, and I believe it is not good to lower our standards and settle for a smaller, less ambitious group. This season, I want to be mindful of these things and work accordingly.
Q: Last season, you mentioned wanting to shine as an individual. What goals do you have for this season?
A, we just have to be fierce. We have to be the most fierce, and I believe that will have a positive impact on the team. I don't think about trying to do things smoothly just because I'm a veteran; first, I want to pursue what I can bring to this team as an individual player. If the team can perform as a collective, we will surely become stronger. First, I think each of us needs to break through as individual players.
Q: If we can achieve the J1 League championship, which we have not been able to accomplish in the 20 years of being a professional, it will be the best season.
A, "Since there is little time left," I think this every year as I work on it, but I want to fully dedicate myself to soccer even more. Even so, if the results don't come, I believe it means I am still not enough. I have no choice but to go all out. Last season was better than the season before last, and this season is better than last season, so I believe there is still more to be done. I want to demand that not only from myself but from the entire team as well. If we do that, I believe the spirit, that flame, will definitely spread.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
