Learned what is necessary to be a “pro”
Sincere efforts in the first season of promotion to the top team
GK 31 Masataka KOBAYASHI
Every person and player has a story. Introducing each blue and red warrior who fought through the 2024 season in '2024 PLAYER’S REVIEW'. What thoughts did they carry as they went through the season? Confidence, a sense of achievement, challenges, joy, regret... Reflecting on this season's battles through their own words.
Masataka KOBAYASHI, in his first season after being promoted from U-18 to the top team. Competing with experienced and accomplished seniors was not easy, and unfortunately, he could not participate in official matches. However, the difference between what he understood intellectually and what he experienced firsthand has undoubtedly become an invaluable asset. Reflecting on his 2024 season, he has laid the foundation to compete as a professional.
In Tokyo, where four goalkeepers are competing, it was not easy for a rookie who just graduated from U-18 to get involved in official matches. However, as autumn deepened, their reliability gradually increased, and signs of growth could be seen in their performances during practice matches and training.
That is why I have gradually come to understand what the differences are between my seniors, Tsuyoshi KODAMA, Go HATANO, and Taishi Brandon NOZAWA.
"In my first year as a professional, coming straight out of high school as a goalkeeper, I understood that it would be difficult to change my ranking immediately. However, experiencing this season and witnessing the excellence of my seniors both on and off the pitch, I truly felt the reasons why I have been able to compete in the professional world until now."
The criteria for selecting seniors as members is primarily a simple ability as a player to defend the goal. In addition to that, it is the trust from the coach, staff, and teammates. When comparing the individual skills of goalkeepers, there may not be such an extreme difference. However, without bridging this gap, it will be difficult to seize opportunities.
"I believe that it is important to keep challenging oneself. If you stop, you become an ordinary goalkeeper. I thought that having a mentality to challenge oneself in everything might be one of the reasons for being selected as a member."
Additionally, to purely enhance the abilities as a professional goalkeeper, a certain amount of training is necessary. In the first season of promotion to the top league, I experienced cases where my body felt heavy when I stepped onto the pitch due to the load from strength training outside the pitch.
"You have to do it even in that condition. Just because your body feels heavy doesn't mean you lose motivation or get discouraged; I try to stay stable."
While I am acutely aware of the wall of professionalism, it is thanks to this that my physical strength has improved, and I no longer feel the training load as tough, which is a positive sign for the future.
"Even if it's difficult to maintain match awareness, I believe I can show an aggressive attitude to leave something on the pitch during play. I think the biggest growth has been that I can now stand as a goalkeeper on the pitch, thinking about what I should do rather than just standing still."
In the 2024 season, the future candidates for the guardian deity have seen and felt the presence of their seniors performing at the top level, and have begun their own physical transformations. The sincere efforts and new discoveries made through diligent work should serve as preparation for succeeding in the J-League.
Text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
