1/17 Training
On the 6th day of the Okinawa Itoman Camp, adjustments were made at Nishizaki Athletic Stadium in preparation for the practice match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima the following day.
On this day, most of the time was devoted to build-up and set-piece practice, with a menu resembling that of the day before an official match. During the build-up training with mannequins set up, Coach Rikizo MATSUHASHI presented ideas such as moving the ball with the cue of a vertical pass to speed up play, and attacking using the half-lane. They repeatedly tried shapes that approached the goal in this way.
Furthermore, they reviewed set plays in both offense and defense to conclude the full team training for the day.
FOCUS ON - Today's Shot -
The official photographer selected this two-shot for today's 'FOCUS ON.' It turns out this is the first time since Kento HASHIMOTO, while in university, happened to run into Kento HASHIMOTO at a Brazilian restaurant and had their photo taken together.
When Kento said, "I've been saying since then that we should play together," Kento promptly retorted, "You forgot, didn't you? I said it though (laughs)."
After the shoot, Kento laughed, saying, "A dream come true." Behind the scenes, there was a heartwarming exchange between the two 'Kentos' from different sides.
CAMP VOICE vol.4 Takahiro KO
Q: This season, it seems that communication among players has increased.
A: I think we have been able to coordinate well, including various aspects of teamwork, while communicating with the new players.
Q: A lot of time is being devoted to build-up play. There was also a presentation of new positioning.
A: We have only just started working on it, so it’s still the initial stage and it’s hard to say much. However, the coach has that kind of style and demands it, so even though the plan was presented in the 2025 season, there were many matches where we chose to overturn things depending on the opponent’s playing intensity and the flow of the game. I don’t think that was wrong, but I believe that in the 2026 season, it will be necessary to switch between such plans. First, I want to encourage challenging ourselves in how we move the ball.
Q: Given the proposals, everyone on the pitch must share the same vision.
A: That is absolutely necessary. I believe this team has the ability for everyone to fully carry out the instructions given. Additionally, the ability to adapt flexibly depending on the opponent's approach is definitely required, so I want to further enhance our flexibility to change decisions while observing the opponent.
Q: Personally, what kind of goals do you want to set for yourself?
A: I believe this season is one we absolutely have to win. While constantly questioning what I can do to achieve victory, I want to communicate more with those around me and live each day with a strong commitment to winning. Last season, there were more opportunities where I pushed forward, but this season, depending on the system and positioning, I might have to take on a more defensive role to some extent. Including that, I feel from training that I need to be more conscious of balancing and managing risks by working backward from the goal of winning. I want to focus on building the foundation of the team.
Q: With more players becoming familiar with Coach Matsuhashi's style of soccer, I think there are also more players who agree with what Takao has been saying and the voices he has raised. It seems that incorporating the coach's soccer and deepening understanding will become smoother as well.
A: I definitely think that is the case. The timing of when the ball comes in and when to spread out has been improving. We have no choice but to always keep eye contact. I want to build the team together with players like Sei MUROYA and others who can lead the way.
Text by Kohei Baba (Freelance Writer)
