Continuation of the Love Story with Blue and Red
Towards His Best Season with Body TransformationFW 11 Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA
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 determination are they bringing into 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──. Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA, who received an offer from Tokyo upon graduating from university, has now become a new member of the blue and red squad this offseason. Despite having great potential, he has often struggled with injuries, but he is now working on physical transformation with his transfer to a new environment, aiming to make the 2024 season his best season yet.
The longing for the striker I yearned for has come true. Perhaps it's the nature of an unpopular man, but I can't help but expect a happy ending to this kind of story of fulfilled love. However, the circumstances around it are a bit complicated, just like a love journey.
In the spring of 2020, during his fourth year at Meiji University, Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA participated in training camps for three clubs: Omiya Ardija, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and FC Tokyo, where he spent his academy days. After careful consideration, he ultimately sought a place to thrive in the northern land.
Since turning professional, he has made a memorable impact on the pitch, but he has also struggled with muscle-related injuries. While spending days feeling unfulfilled, he ended last season in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League with 22 appearances and 6 goals.
"I have really struggled with injuries. I never thought there would be such a long period when I couldn't play soccer. I believe I was able to absorb various things and grow in Sapporo, but there were certainly aspects that were far from my ideals."
And now, in the off-season, I have decided to transfer in order to make a complete comeback. The new place I chose is the blue and red club that I did not grasp the hand extended to me at that time. Since then, they have highly valued my talent and their passionate calls to "chase dreams together" have finally borne fruit. The club has launched a regeneration plan and promised support in both medical and physical aspects. They have organized their structure and are ready to welcome me.
The new season started with a focus on carefully balancing the body to prevent injuries. After the start, adjustments continued with a different menu, forcing a period of patience. He himself expressed a complex feeling, saying, "I always wanted to join team practice. There was no pain or discomfort in my body, and I was fit to play soccer, so there were frustrating parts." Nevertheless, he closely coordinated with the staff and faced his own body.
"I have been patient and careful up to this point, so it would be great if I could thoroughly balance my body and join the team."
I gradually became part of the team, and it was finally two weeks before the opening match that I joined the practice with others. It feels like I finally made it in. I still think my condition for playing soccer is not quite there yet. I need to improve a bit more. This is my fourth year as a professional, and I want to have the best season I've ever had.
Eliminate the anxiety of injuries that have been troubling me and challenge myself to have the best season ever. If there are no obstacles, the path to the Japan national team and the world should be connected. The continuation of the dream of Tokyo and Tsuyoshi OGASHIWA begins here.
text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
