A new scenery that was seen while struggling
Unleashing the accumulated strength in the final stage
MF 33 Kota TAWARATSUMIDA
People, players, and stories. Introducing the 2024 PLAYER'S REVIEW, featuring all the blue and red warriors who fought through the 2024 season. What were their thoughts and feelings during the season? Confidence, progress, challenges, joy, and regret... Each player will reflect on their battles this season in their own words.
After a strong impact in his first year as a professional, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA entered the 2024 season with high expectations for further growth. While he showed numerous scenes of easily surpassing opponents in one-on-one situations, it was also a fact that he struggled with the increasing pressure from defenders. At that time, the coach who had been his mentor since his academy days, Takashi OKUHARA, reached out to him. What were the words of his grateful teacher that helped him move forward, and what new changes did they bring to his mindset?
The versatile dribbler has raised his perspective a little in his second year as a professional.
He approached the season with a body that had grown one size larger through physical training, and he had a sense of accomplishment even before the start of the season. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA had no doubt that he would make a leap forward, saying, "I want to improve in all aspects and go beyond last season's numbers."
As the year of competition begins, he continued to play consistently. He had more playing opportunities than last season, but he couldn't improve his numbers as he had hoped.
As the summer season approaches, he gradually starts to be left out of the starting lineup, and his frustration and worries become even more intense. As the team is abandoned by victory, he uttered these words.
"I am also in a situation where I cannot catch the wave, so it is a very difficult situation. However, there were also times like this last season. Really, everyone is struggling more than they think."
What was troubling me was that "even the dribbling was further countered and two people would definitely come, and the shooting as well, and I couldn't play well when I was in a good condition."
Last season, as we gradually faced countermeasures from our opponents, we had a tough time. However, we continued to practice and increased our options in play, overcoming the obstacles. In the previous season, on September 23rd, in the 28th round of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League against Sagan Tosu, we scored our first professional goal. In the following match against Gamba Osaka, we recorded an impressive two consecutive goals, leaving our opponents behind with our signature dribbling skills.
"We are in the same situation, but the level of worries is higher than in the first year. However, I believe that by utilizing the experience from last season, just one play can change the entire game. When I play in the game, I want to make that one play, evolve my own play, and ride the team on a wave. That would be ideal."
In his second year as a professional, this season, the level of caution from opponents has been raised even higher, and countermeasures have been further developed. In such a situation, a phrase that lightened his heart caught his ear. It was from his former coach at FC Tokyo U-18, Takashi HARA, who joined the top team this season, who said, "The worries you have now are things you can't experience at your age." With those words, he felt that this was a path he would eventually pass through, and that his own journey was not wrong.
And just like last season, they continue to practice and unleash their accumulated strength. In the J1 League Sec. 29 match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on August 31st, they recorded an assist, and in the following match against Urawa Reds, they induced an own goal. As the scent of goals began to drift, they scored their second goal of the season in a solo run reminiscent of a flower path in the match against Yokohama F. Marinos.
The scenery that can be seen while struggling has changed. Therefore, the words for the future are a little different from a year ago. That is telling the story of his growth.
"I have to become someone who can lead the team. I'm not the type to speak up, but I want to lead the team through my play. It's completely different from my first year. I want to become someone who can make this team win."
Text by Koji Baba (Freelance Writer)
