Seiji KIMURA and Kashif BANGNAGANDE. After many years as "allies" from U-15 Fukagawa, they will once again don the same uniform in Tokyo this season. After being promoted to the top team and growing through several loan spells, KIMURA became a key player for the U-23 Japan national team during the Paris Olympic generation last season, returning to the red and blue after gaining experience on the world stage. On the other hand, BANGNAGANDE honed his skills in Tokyo and made his debut for the senior national team in March 2023. Although he could not participate in the main tournament of the Paris Olympics due to injury, he has evolved into a standout presence on the pitch. The two, who have walked different paths, will reunite in the 2025 season after each has evolved. What will both players think anew? In the first part, they discussed their memories from the time apart and the performances expected from academy graduates.
──I think we have had various experiences in different places last season. What kind of season was it for you?
Seiji KIMURA There were both happy and frustrating moments. Behind winning the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and qualifying for the Paris Olympics, my loan spell at Sagan Tosu ended in disappointing results. I think it's quite rare to have such extreme experiences in the same season. I believe it was a state where my mental state was easily influenced, but even so, being able to continue playing throughout the season and receiving support from various people was a very good experience.
Kashif BANGNAGANDE I had a frustrating season. I think the first half of the season was very smooth since the opening. I was able to participate in league matches at the best pace ever, and I believe I had the highest number of goals and assists in my appearances so far. However, I got injured at a crucial moment, and honestly, I regret that the injury did not heal completely and lingered on.
──Do you feel the changes in each other after reuniting for the first time in a while?
Kimura I haven't played together since returning to Tokyo, so there are many things I don't know, but I think personally, not much has changed.
Yoshifumi It doesn't feel like we haven't seen each other in a while.
Kimura I haven't seen you much at all for a year...
Yoshifumi Yeah, that's right. We hardly meet. We only contact each other occasionally.
Kimura I didn't keep in touch frequently, but when I came back, it felt like we were always together as usual, so I don't really think much has changed.
──During this past year apart, there must be some changes in yourself. What kind of image do you want to show each other?
Kimura I think my positioning during build-up play, the choice of passing options, and how I carry the ball have improved a lot since last season, and I believe I can show plays that make people think, "You've gotten better." What surprised me was that Yasuki KIMOTO also said the same thing. He asked me, "I felt like your build-up play has really improved at Tosu and with the national team, where did you learn that?" That made me realize, "I have improved." It was definitely a point that made me happy and gave me confidence. Once I return and can play together, if I am on the left center-back, I will definitely want to line up next to him. I want to make him feel that it has become easier than before.
Kashifu I would really appreciate it (laughs). I feel that I have grown in my play, and I can now feel a sense of calm and composure during matches, which I believe I have really developed. I also feel that my range of play has expanded a bit, but since I haven't been able to play soccer for about seven months, I don't know what will happen when I return. However, personally, I think I have been able to grow in that aspect, so I am looking forward to it.
──Although you are being modest, your play just before the injury was truly wonderful to watch, and while you had a strong offensive presence, your contribution to defense has also significantly increased. This time, you should be able to support player Kimura in defense as well.
Yoshifumi Well, that's true. However, whether I can be helped in defense is... (laughs).
Kimura It would be great if I didn't have to cover anymore (laughs). But it was that good. After all, I was concerned about the Tokyo matches and watched them from time to time.
──This season, nearly half of the top team is composed of players from Tokyo's academy. This is an unprecedented number in the past. Among them, the two who are exactly in the middle generation, how do you want to lead this team?
Kashif The one at the top is Kento (Kento HASHIMOTO), and below him is Go (Go HATANO)…….
Kimura From there, Tsubasa-kun (Tsubasa TERAYAMA) is with us... Everyone is skilled, right? The question is how to keep everyone from slacking off on the pitch while not slacking off ourselves. Everyone has high abilities, so they must have been promoted to be on the current team. As for the care of those from the academy... I don't think we're in a position to take care of them yet.
Kashifu We should be able to demonstrate our attitude. If we can play in the matches and become central to the team, I believe it will naturally lead to us leading the team.
Kimura That's definitely easier to convey than words. It's great to see seniors and juniors from the academy working hard. To inspire others to think, 'I want to do my best too!', the best way is to perform well in matches.
──I am a bit surprised not only by Taiyo YAMAGUCHI and Wataru GOTO, who were promoted this season, but also by the academy players participating in the camp and playing freely. Reflecting on your first year as a professional and the time you participated in practice, how do you see it?
Kimura You were really nervous, right? (laughs). During your first year and when you were a trainee.
Kashifu I think it's amazing to see them playing freely there. I sometimes regret being timid myself. That's why, when academy players participate in practice, I've always encouraged them to "just go for it." I was conscious of that, so I think it's good that we can create an environment where they can play freely without worrying. However, the strictness of the top team that we saw during our academy days must never be erased. I want to show them, "This is the top team," while also encouraging them to not be afraid and to push in. I think we, who are from the academy, can relate to them more easily, so I want to continue to engage with them as much as possible.
──Once again, what kind of coach is Rikizo MATSUHASHI?
Yoshifumi I haven't had a long time to talk yet, but listening to the meeting, my first impression was that he is a very honest person. It's hard to express, but I get the impression that he is a serious person who faces others sincerely, thinks deeply about things, and has no hidden motives.
Kimura What Mr. Rikuzou wants to convey is very easy to understand. He communicates it with great care. In the past few seasons, we have had foreign coaches, but I believe that the strength of Japanese coaches lies in their communication skills, and perhaps Mr. Rikuzou's ability to convey messages adds to that. Personally, I wondered, "Why does he use so much honorific language?" The meetings were also in honorifics, right?
Yoshifumi I might not have been that aware of it.
Kimura speaks to all players in respectful language. Therefore, there is no pressure felt. I think that is a factor that allows for free play. I don't know if it's intentional, but he is really very polite, and the coach mentioned that he is "nervous" about new challenges, so I thought he is a genuinely honest person. He comes down to our level, makes eye contact, and says that it's fine to say anything, which makes it easy to talk to him. I believe he is a coach who is easy to approach if something comes up. He doesn't intimidate people, and the atmosphere during practice never becomes negative, which I think is due to Mr. Rikuzou's character.
Continued in the next part
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
