Regular competition in the second season of the pro league
A blue-red dream spanning two generations of father and son
DF 32 Kanta DOI
A special content introducing all the blue and red warriors challenging the 2024 season. What are the players, who are about to start the season, thinking and what kind of determination are they bringing to the year? The stories of the players, who hold in their hearts their love for the club, their thirst for titles, their aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill──. Kanta DOI, who has Yoichi DOI (current goalkeeper coach of Yokohama FC), a former guardian of Tokyo who built an era, as his father. This season, in his second year after promotion to the top, he may have a season of great progress, as he joins the competition for the center-back position from the pre-season camp.
A remarkably composed young player has emerged. Kanta DOI, in his second season after being promoted from FC Tokyo U-18 to the top team, is confidently playing among the regulars. Even after returning to Tokyo following the Okinawa and Miyazaki camps, competition continues in multiple positions, and he is playing strongly and firmly joining the battle for a fixed position.
Even in situations where the opponent applies high pressure, he has the ability to maintain possession of the ball and carry it forward. In the 2023 season, he played both as a defensive midfielder and a center-back. He showed eagerness to secure a midfield position where he could demonstrate his stronger attributes. However, as the new year began, he was calculated as a key player in the final line by coach Peter CKLAMOVSKI. "The coach pays close attention to one-on-one play, so I felt it was important to keep doing what I was doing," said Doi. His commitment to hard work was likely appreciated by the coach.
In Tokyo, where strong individual talents gather, one must stand out and showcase their strong points regardless of age to survive. In this regard, this man possesses exceptional mental strength.
"I think I was able to assert myself since last season. Moving forward, I want to listen to others' opinions more, as I feel my assertions were too strong in a way."
During the training match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima held at the Miyazaki camp, present on the adjacent pitch was Yoichi DOI, the goalkeeper coach of Yokohama FC and Kanta DOI's father. He was once the legendary goalkeeper who brought the first title to the blue and red team. It became a topic on social media when he was told to "go over there," but perhaps the strong heart inherited from his father, nurtured by his childhood environment, has resulted in the Kanta we see today.
In that match against Hiroshima, he received a last pass from Kuryu MATSUKI during a set play and scored a goal with his foot that led to victories in the first and second training matches. While he is strongly associated with powerful headers, he also possesses agility. His ability to perform multiple roles and his diverse skill set are appealing.
"I think it's better to be able to play both positions, not just as a center-back, especially when someone gets sent off. That's my strength, so I want to develop my ability to excel in either position."
The player with the number 32 has infinite possibilities. The story as a professional player has just begun. The club's legacy inherited from the academy, and the DNA passed down from his biological father. Kanta DOI will weave the blue and red dream that spans two generations.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
