"The return of the 'mood maker' who has evolved greatly as a player
GK 13 Go HATANO
GK 13 Go HATANO
Special content introducing the all-blue-red warriors who will challenge the 2024 season. What are the players thinking and what kind of determination are they approaching the year with as they prepare for the opening? The players' stories, filled with love for the club, thirst for titles, aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill─. Go HATANO, who returned from a loan to V-Varen Nagasaki. We followed his growth and evolution as he livened up the team with his cheerful personality.
The cheerful man has returned. With Kensuke NAGAI's return in the summer of the 2022 season, and his transfer before the start of the 2023 season, there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in terms of personality, even though he was a strong player. But now, there is no need to worry. The positive brightness, the understanding of the club as an academy graduate, and the performance on the pitch have all greatly improved. Go HATANO, who will once again wear the number 13 jersey in the 2024 season, is the reason for this.
On January 13th, the club's official account encouraged fans on SNS, saying "Let's get excited!" and just 4 days later, they announced "Today we're having dinner with the new players. We'll teach them a lot about Tokyo so they can quickly become part of the blue and red." The club, which is going through a transitional period, is actively sharing what is necessary to improve the team that struggled last season. As Tokyo strives to grow as a football club rooted in the city, this behavior symbolizes that goal.
In the practice match with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, which concluded the Miyazaki camp, an impressive performance was shown on the pitch. His body, which has grown about one size, jumps around nimbly. His powerful presence, like that of a European goalkeeper, is truly worthy of being described as "reborn". He himself also said, "I feel like I have a lot of power in an instant." As he said, his ability to see the whole team has increased, as he has played games in Nagasaki last season and his defensive range has expanded. His ability to observe the situation from the back and move the team has also increased. His decision-making, such as whether to move forward, hold, or deflect, has become more accurate.
There may have been a path to continue living at other clubs, such as Nagasaki, where he was on loan. However, after receiving the announcement of Taishi Brandon NOZAWA's selection for the Japan national team, he decided to return to Tokyo immediately. As a result of the reaction between the blue and red blood, his destination was decided to be in Tokyo. Go HATANO does not look back on the past. He is solely focused on Tokyo, with no hesitation, and is looking towards the future of himself and the club.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
