It may not have been that long ago to call it a journey down memory lane. However, at the Japan National Stadium, where joy erupted after 9 matches, a memory lane of Diego OLIVEIRA unfolded during the match against Gamba Osaka.
The legend, who is also the club's all-time top scorer in the J1 League, has returned as the club ambassador for the red and blue team after about five months. He visited Kodaira Ground, where he used to go every day until just a few months ago, and also set foot in Japan National Stadium and Ajinomoto Stadium, where he fought with everything he had. After returning to his home country Brazil, he is said to be spending peaceful days with his beloved family. He is currently building a new home and smiles as he says, "What I do is help with the house, take the kids to and from school, do muscle training, and have churrasco."
"Now I spend more time with my family. For me, it’s a new chapter in life, different from before. I returned after five months, and I’m truly happy to have reunited with so many friends here in Japan. In the recent match, I was able to cheer together at the Japan National Stadium, and above all, I’m very glad that the team won there."
The team has gone eight league matches without a win, and he was watching the game from the officials' seats, worried and thinking, "What’s going on? Are they okay?" The 'Victory God Diego' was relieved by the win that blew away those concerns.
"I knew the team was struggling a lot. It was a tough match, but I'm glad we were able to secure the long-awaited victory and three points. I was really happy too."
The players who played a key role were also memorable for Diego. Takahiro KO, who came on as a substitute and changed the flow of the game by scoring the second goal, was the player whom Diego waited for after their first match to speak to.
For Takai, it became a memorable moment. On April 29, 2023, in the match against Albirex Niigata, Tokyo won 2-1 with Diego's winning goal. After the match, when Takai, who was a Niigata player, finished changing and left the locker room, the ace of the opposing team he had just faced in the match was standing right in front of him. When he heard that the ace had been waiting for him, he was surprised and asked, "Why?" From there, he was bombarded with rapid-fire questions. In the end, he was invited with "Come join us," and Takai looked back on that time saying, "I was really happy."
On that day, Diego smiled with narrowed eyes as the man he recognized for his ability wore the blue and red captain's armband and led the team he loved.
"We have faced each other before, and last season we played together. It goes without saying that Yan (Takashi's nickname) is an outstanding player. But he is also a wonderful person as a human being. On the pitch, he is very dedicated, runs a lot, and works hard. In the recent match, I was happy to see him wearing the captain's armband and representing Tokyo as a key player, and thriving as a captain. Even when playing together, I always felt his respect towards me, and I truly respected him as well. He is a player worthy of respect and a role model. I am glad to have fought alongside him, and it was a great experience for me too."
Another standout was Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, whose play drew exclamations of admiration. It wasn’t just the opening goal showcasing his individual skills, but the third goal that delighted Diego. Since his playing days, he has said, "Tawara is not aiming to be just a dribbler. He can become a player who scores goals. It’s about whether you believe you can lead this team to victory with your own goals." He explained the reason for this once again.
"He is still a young player, but he truly has both quality and strength. Everyone knows about his abilities. Without me even having to say it, he possesses something wonderful. When we played together, I talked to him about various things. It might have been just a little experience, but I also shared advice on what might be better to do. Honestly, there were times I felt stressed because he didn’t pass the ball during matches. However, it wasn’t that he was trying to take all the good opportunities for himself; he believed there were situations where passing wasn’t necessary.
I told him as well, of course, his one-on-one strength is very good. I want him to continue having that and to further develop it as his strong point and weapon. However, soccer is also a team sport. Sometimes three or four opponents mark him. It's difficult to break through them alone. On the contrary, to bring out his further potential, using his teammates around him to receive return passes leads to better play from him. I believed that would make the team even stronger.
It's unfortunate that I won't be playing with him anymore, and perhaps he didn't fully accept what I talked about during my active years. However, I want him to continue thriving as an even greater player, and if we can bring out those qualities, he should be able to level up and move on to the next stage. I want to keep supporting him from now on.
In the final moments of the match against G Osaka, Tawara Tsukida quickly passed the ball to Taka with one touch, then slipped into the crowded area among opponents and teammates to draw a return pass. As a result, his shot caused an own goal. This play using a teammate is exactly the kind of action Diego wanted to see.
"I don't know how much my words reached him, but if he is playing with that mindset, I am very happy. I want him to grow even more, and I also wish for that. In the previous match against G Osaka, it goes without saying, he broke through a difficult situation and scored the opening goal with truly outstanding effort. It's no exaggeration to say that he decided the match. Three more goals were scored after that. I think it was a wonderful goal that he accomplished through his individual skill.
If he can involve his teammates while interacting with those around him, like in the third goal, his abilities will be brought out even more than before. Everyone probably wants to keep seeing Tawara's wonderful plays, and we hope he continues his skillful performances. As he gains more and more experience, he will see various new perspectives and feel many different things. I truly believe he will become an outstanding player in the future.”
He was moved by the unchanged appearance of his same-age amigo. His partner, Keigo HIGASHI, had been someone he was drawn to since their active playing days. When they met again after a long time, the first thing he said was, "You need to change into your training clothes quickly," and Diego didn't seem to mind at all.
"All my teammates are important players and precious amigos, but among them, Keigo HIGASHI and Mori (Masato MORISHIGE) are special to me to the extent that I can say they are unique. From the very first day I joined Tokyo until today, Keigo has helped me in many ways and respected me. I also love him very much and think he is an excellent player and a wonderful person. To me, he is an ideal player and human being.
I am truly happy that Keigo said he wants to play together with me. If the team says they need me once again, I really do want to come back. I want to play together as well, and I am truly full of gratitude towards Keigo."
When the final whistle blew, I felt relieved to see my beloved club emerge from a long tunnel. The bond deepened here in Japan, far from my homeland Brazil, will remain unchanged from now on.
"Since joining this team, I have received many gifts from my teammates and everyone involved with the club. The success I have achieved as a player is thanks to all those gifts. I want to express my gratitude once again. I will never forget this feeling, and from now on, I hope to do various things for the team in return. Right now, I am in the process of thinking about several projects. It's not at a stage where I can talk about them specifically yet, but I want to consider more and make these new projects successful."
At the end of the first interview in months, I tried to uncover the secret behind his arms, which had become more muscular than during his active career, and asked, "Did you do strength training to prepare for a comeback?" Diego shook his head slightly and answered.
"Until now, I had been training as a player, but after retiring and stopping practice, my body weakened and my physique changed, so I was doing strength training for my own health. Of course, if the team says they need me, I’m willing to prepare properly and come back here again (laughs)."
The closing was the usual "Obrigado Diego," but I secretly included the sentiment "We are always waiting for you."
(Honorifics omitted in the text)
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
