Thank you for your continued support in the 2022 season.
We would like to report the 2022 activities of the academy, which is supported by our club support members.
□ Report from the Secretariat
The 2022 season was a season in which we finally began to regain our daily lives from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we were unable to fully return to our pre-pandemic state, the restrictions on home game hosting were gradually relaxed, and many club support members were able to attend and support us. We would like to express our sincere gratitude once again. Although the head coach of the top team has changed to Albert PUIG ORTONEDA from the 2022 season, the club's policy of developing the academy remains unchanged. The U-18 players participated mainly in the Levain Cup matches and were able to show their united efforts as a club. Furthermore, four players, Naoki KUMATA, Kanta DOI, Kota TAWARATSUMIDA, and Renta HIGASHI, will be promoted from the U-18 team for the 2023 season. Your support is the strength of our club. We would like to report the 2022 season's income and expenses of the club support members, which are supported by your annual membership fees, as follows.
Now, with the new club structure in place, the top team's coach, Albert Puig Ortoneda, also values the academy. As a result, many U-18 players have been called up and given more opportunities to play in regular practices and official matches. Therefore, by working towards the same direction as the top team, the U-18 team can also improve their performance and make it easier to play in the top team. We have made an effort to have a common understanding, including the system, in order to achieve this. It was a season where we felt that if we could achieve this, it would be a shortcut to the top team. While there were trials and errors in bringing out the players' individuality and in crucial moments of the game, as time passed, the balance improved as well.
In addition, at the beginning of the season, one of the goals we discussed with the players was to regain a strong FC Tokyo U-18. I think the players had a negative feeling that they were not strong enough. That's why we wanted to create a team that not only achieved results, but also had a strong mentality and was admired by others. As for my own goal, I was conscious of "making everyone a professional". Four players were promoted, but I feel that we were able to cultivate a mindset of reaching the professional level without leaving anyone behind, including players who went on to university.
There, the importance of the team coming together as one, the never-give-up attitude that FC Tokyo has always cherished... Furthermore, the discipline on and off the pitch, behavior during daily practice, and life at school and home, are all results of the hard work of the third-year students in creating their own standards as FC Tokyo U-18 players. As a result, the players who have changed have been able to express themselves more on the pitch. I feel that everyone has grown and ended the year with a sense of accomplishment.
In addition, we have received tremendous support from our club support members, both financially and emotionally. The financial support was not insignificant, but more importantly, the goals of our academy have clearly changed since the establishment of the club support members. Instead of just striving for promotion to the top, we now aim to be at the center of the top. It is not a far-fetched dream to contribute to winning titles and then aiming for the world stage. We sincerely thank our supporters for their support in various challenges.
This year, Fukagawa had many offensive players who were able to go towards the goal while valuing the ball. While utilizing this characteristic, the top team also incorporated their style and aimed to mix it with Fukagawa's own style throughout the year.
The last "Emperor's Cup All Japan Youth" left us with a sense of regret for the results, but that's just how soccer goes. Under this new challenge, I was able to learn a lot and have a fulfilling and successful season, including both rewards and challenges.
Specifically, we told our players to not only focus on the number of goals, but also to surpass the opponent in the number of shots and ball possession. We also asked all players, regardless of their position, to actively seek opportunities to enter the opponent's penalty area. However, in the summer national tournament "Japan Club Youth Championship," we became too defensive and passive in the game. When we shrink back, the opponent's momentum increases. The more tense the game, the more we need to play aggressively, otherwise we will allow the opponent to show their strengths. Experiencing and understanding this aspect of soccer, and reflecting on it, was one of the factors that led to our first victory in the "Kanto Youth (U-15) League Division 1."
The third-year students have been close friends since their first year, kicking the ball until they are told to go home, both before and after practice. They were able to achieve consistent results as a cohesive team, but from here on out, it will be a battle of individual skills. When they enter high school, they will surely be looked at with the expectation of "coming from FC Tokyo," and they will face even tougher competition in the U-18 league. We emphasize the importance of how they express themselves in their respective environments.
We are grateful to have club support members and others come to cheer for us at the national tournament. Especially for the third years, they have not had many opportunities to cheer and chant together for the past three years. They were not able to go to Ajinomoto Stadium and learn chants, cheer for upperclassmen and underclassmen, or sing together... We feel sad about that, but we hope they will not forget the spirit of Fukagawa and become strong.
What Musashi aimed for was to win the "Japan Club Youth Championship" for the second time in a row, and to fight through the season while growing as a team, and finally win the last tournament, the "Emperor's Cup All Japan Youth". It was a year of challenges, based on Musashi's strengths of physicality and hard work, taking control of both offense and defense, and striving for a dynamic style.
The beginning of the season started with three consecutive losses in the league, and the team also faced the difficulty of team management and the unpredictability of matches in the national tournament. However, the players have a strong sense of accomplishment in what they have steadily built up. Especially towards the end of the league and in the "Emperor's Cup All Japan Youth", they embodied a style of confidently valuing the ball and connecting passes even against tough opponents. I feel a great sense of growth there.
This year's team was made up of truly serious and hardworking players. Among them, there was a desire to develop a "player who can step forward and stand out", but unfortunately, due to the new coronavirus infection prevention measures, we were unable to help each other and strengthen our unity through trips and training camps over the course of three years.
Under that situation, there were some changes in the team's way of fighting and tactics, but what I have been telling the players every day has not changed. What I valued was "everything is for becoming a professional". Now, you are wearing the FC Tokyo emblem, but you are not professionals. If you are not always fully prepared for the future, there will be no future. I have also told you some harsh things, that it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities given to you.
I believe that what influenced me during my developmental years was the passion of my coaches.
We will continue to inherit the history of Musashi and everything is "to become a professional". We want to show our passionate, enthusiastic, and always dedicated attitude.
