Increased reliability of the blue and red Big Saver
Experience of fulfillment in Tokyo and as a representative
GK 41 Taishi Brandon NOZAWA
People, players, and stories. Introducing the 2024 PLAYER'S REVIEW, featuring all the blue and red warriors who fought through the season. What thoughts did they have while going through the season? Confidence, progress, challenges, joy, and regret... Each one will look back on their battles this season, sharing their own words.
Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who experienced the AFC Asian Cup with the Japan national team and the Paris Olympics from Asia as a member of the U-23 Japan national team. He did not have many opportunities to wear the national flag on the pitch, but in Tokyo, he continued to save the team with repeated big saves and evolved into a reliable goalkeeper, making it a year of growth. What were his thoughts behind the scenes, and what does the 2024 season mean to him?
It was truly a tumultuous year. On January 1st, Taishi Brandon NOZAWA, who was a member of the Japan national team, was also selected as a member of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar and flew straight to the venue. While the team was conducting pre-season camps in Okinawa and Miyazaki, the 21-year-old goalkeeper fought with pride for the Japanese national team.
The time to wear two pairs of shoes for both team and national team activities did not change even after the season started. In April, they will compete in the Asian final qualifiers for the Paris Olympics, and this time they will land in Qatar as a member of the U-23 Japan national team, and in July they will experience the main tournament of the Paris Olympics, which was one of their goals. They were unable to step onto the pitch, but they returned feeling the top level of their generation with their own skin.
And when he stands on the pitch as a Tokyo player, he shows a fulfilling performance such as making big saves to save the team multiple times. He has greatly increased his playing time since his J1 league debut last season and has proudly declared himself as the main goalkeeper for the blue and red team.
However, the person himself casually looks back on his experiences of many "firsts" and says, "I didn't feel busy." What he mentioned was hunger, and the sense of crisis was much greater than the sense of accomplishment.
"I strongly felt that I needed to reach a higher level mentally and technically faster."
Perhaps it was because of the joy and difficulty of continuing to play in Tokyo during the 2024 season, as well as the frustration of not being able to play while carrying the weight of Japan.
"The most important thing was gaining experience when playing in a match. As a soccer player, I thought it was something special. I spent a lot of time not playing in the national team, which made me think about things, but I realized that the time that contributes the most to my growth is when I am playing in a match. Mistakes happen when playing in a match. When they pile up, it can be difficult to believe in yourself or even step onto the pitch and practice. But that is something that only players who continue to play in matches can understand. Playing in a match means being chosen, so you have to take responsibility and continue to stand on the pitch. When I think about it, growth is important, but I also need to quickly acquire the quality and mentality that is suitable for a player who plays in matches."
The back number 41 has become bigger and more reliable. For the man who aims for the title in Tokyo and looks towards the world, the 2024 season should have been a fulfilling year and a time that will lead to future success.
Text by Daisuke Suga (El Golasso)
