On the fourth day of camp, practice started under the strong sunlight typical of Okinawa.
The morning practice started with a physical conditioning menu, followed by finishing from passing drills, ball circulation, and finally, we worked on positional games.
In the menu that leads from passing work to finishing, we are focusing on improving shooting accuracy in front of the goal and being aware of the timing to receive passes while opening up to the side.
In possession games, while keeping in mind the importance of circulating the ball and not losing it with few touches, we played by maintaining tempo and connecting at close distances, but also had the option to spread the play if the opposite side was open.
In the second year of Albert PUIG ORTONEDA's management, there is an impression that the team is smoothly moving the ball in all menus.
In the afternoon practice, we warmed up before engaging in a practice match.
We are checking positions while trying out various combinations of players.
All the players are able to practice with good expressions.
It's a tough time at the beginning of camp, but we will continue to engage in fulfilling training.
On the fourth day of camp, we bring you an interview with rookie Naoki KUMATA, who has been promoted from the U-18 team.
Q: You have started practicing in Tokyo as a professional. How do you feel about it now?
A, I feel that there are quite a few areas where I am not yet sufficient to be a starter, both in terms of what works for me and in the forward position.
Q: You always seem confident, but do you ever get nervous during practice or games?
A, the atmosphere is different in the stadium, but I don't feel nervous during practice.
Q: You had scoring ability while enrolled in the academy.
The level between the academy and the top is not just one or two levels different; I want to bring my strengths to a level that can compete in the J1 top league.
Q: Which specific skills would you like to develop?
A, now that I am playing as a lone striker, the way I hold the ball is significantly different from Diego OLIVEIRA, so I want to improve my ball retention skills.
Q: Are there any requests from the coach?
I think the first thing is to score points, but I believe the coach wants me to play boldly.
Q: I believe you have participated in practice since last season and have already made your official match debut, so you may understand some aspects of the style the coach is looking for. How do you feel about it again?
A, I have a pretty good understanding of the defensive aspect. However, if I don't showcase my strengths more in the attacking aspect, I don't think crosses from the side will come to me, so I want to make sure I can highlight the parts where I can stand out in attack.
Q: Are you aiming for a spot in the starting lineup for the opening match?
A, aiming for it.
Q: Which players are you close with in Tokyo? Do you also go and ask older players about their experiences?
A, I talk to all the players, but especially with Ryoma WATANABE, I often discuss soccer.
Q: What are your goals for this season?
A is aiming for 10 goals this season. Of course, that is the goal, but first and foremost, I want to start in the opening match, and while results are important, I personally want to score at least one goal to establish myself as a starter.
