Wandering striker “Kosuke Kinoshita (Sint-Truiden VV) Interview” Vol.1: High school days when I practiced with Aguero and Balotelli
Kosuke Kinoshita is a large striker with a height of 190 cm who has been rubbed in Germany, Sweden and Europe, starting with participating in Manchester City's practice in high school. After scoring 13 goals in Sweden last year, he joined Sint-Truiden VV in January and scored on his debut. I had a lot of stories about my life up until now, along with Spike's story, in Belgium.
Koike Kikuchi
|
2019/05/10
ーーKinoshita-san, you have played in many countries, so there are many things I would like to ask you, but first, let me tell you about Spike. - Do you remember the spikes you wore at the beginning of your turn?
Kinoshita:The first is Mizuno. I wore Mizuno from elementary school to junior high school.
ーーWhat was the reason for wearing Mizuno for the first time?
Kinoshita:I don't remember much, but I think Mizuno caught my eye when I went to buy spikes with my father. At first, I didn't know about Spike at all, so it just happened.
ーーBy the way, when did you start playing soccer?
Kinoshita:It was around the end of my second year of elementary school.
ーーIs there a reason?
Kinoshita:I was invited by a friend. Originally, I wasn't sure whether to play baseball or soccer. My father used to play baseball, so I often played baseball with him before I entered elementary school.
I wasn't on a team, so when I was thinking about joining another team, a good friend of mine was playing soccer, so I somehow ended up going there.
ーーIt was a pity for your father. From high school, you belonged to Yokohama FC Youth. What kind of spikes did you wear in high school?
Kinoshita:I continued to wear Mizuno, and when I entered the Japan national team in each age group, I received the spikes from my sponsor, Adidas, and started wearing Adidas.
ーーAt that time, did you have any particular preferences, such as choosing spikes by appearance or by lightness?
Kinoshita:At the time, I wasn't too particular about it, but I was still concerned about how easy it was to wear. I didn't choose it by appearance such as color. I was not dissatisfied with Mizuno's spikes, so I continued to wear them.
I didn't quit Mizuno, but when I became the representative and started wearing Adidas, I gradually came to think that Adidas is also good.
ーーWhen you were in high school, you went to England to take the Manchester City test and participated in the practice. Please tell us how and why.
Kinoshita:The trigger is an interview with the coach before going up to the youth. At that time, I said, "I want to go abroad."
So, when I thought about what to do, it would be nice if there was an offer, but since I am a youth player, it won't be so easy.
Then, I had to appeal myself, so my teacher introduced me to an agent, who sent me my profile and video, and it became a form of participation in practice.
ーーYou participated in practice when you were in your third year of high school, right? Participating in Manchester City training at that age is a dream world, isn't it?
Kinoshita:Well, I was only 17 at the time.
ーーHow was it when you actually went there? Are you in the top team?
Kinoshita:Basically, I played in second teams such as U21 and U23. But there were some top team players there.
At that time, City had just won the Premier League for the first time, so there were players I usually watch on TV, and I was practicing thinking that it was amazing.
At that time, I remember practicing together with Aguero, David Silva, and Balotelli in the second team, probably for adjustment. But Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz were always in second.
ーーAfter actually working together, how was the level?
Kinoshita:The level is naturally high, but I was desperate, so I was able to play as much as I could.
ーーEven adults get excited just by playing with Manchester City players.
Especially at that time, you were a high school student and young.
Does it feel like a dream? Or did you see them as rivals?
Kinoshita:It's just amazing. At that time, I couldn't speak English, so I couldn't talk to them, so I just watched them.
Tevez was doing muscle training, a companion came when I was eating, and Zabaleta greeted me when I thought I was going to practice, it was amazing.
ーーThat experience at the age of 17 is invaluable. Are there any memorable episodes?
Kinoshita:I couldn't speak English that well, but overseas people shake hands as a greeting, don't they? I was happy that even the top players came to me and said hello.
ーーDidn't you get criticized for being Japanese or something like that? Don't pass the ball.
Kinoshita:I didn't feel anything like that. I think it was really welcome.
ーーBy working with top of the top players, did you gain confidence that you might be able to do it at this level?
Kinoshita:I agree. But the top players are coming for adjustments, so I don't know how seriously they are doing. When it comes to Balotelli, relatively everyone refrains. It feels intimidating. I've been practicing pretty crazy things (laughs).
--in particular?
Kinoshita:Suddenly shooting at the coach with full power and laughing out loud. I don't know the power relationship, but the second coach doesn't say anything. But it wasn't bad, it felt good.
ーーWhat happened after you participated in Manchester City's practice for about a week to 10 days?
Kinoshita:After that, I went to Freiburg (German Bundesliga) for about a week.
ーーFreiburg was also part 1 at the time.Mon. What was it like?
Kinoshita:Due to the schedule, I wasn't able to participate in the top team's practice, so I was doing it mostly with the second team, but I felt that I could do it better in Freiburg. I guess I was used to it at Manchester City earlier.
I felt that the City team was a bit physically ahead of the pack, and although they were both second-teamers, they were all bigger and faster than Freiburg.
--Are first-class players coming to Freiburg for second practice?
Kinoshita:I don't come to practice often. At that time, I didn't participate in league matches just by participating in practice, but what I learned after joining was that players who didn't appear at the top often came to the second match. When there are many people, five or six people come.
ーーInevitably, the level will also be higher. These two teams are the first overseas teams. What inspired you?
Kinoshita:I had fun. My impression was that there were only positive things. I always wanted to go abroad, so every day was very fulfilling as I was able to take the first step towards my dream.
ーーPlease tell us why you wanted to go abroad since you were young.
Kinoshita:Ever since I was a child, I've been watching soccer overseas more often than the J.
ーーDid you often watch the Premier League?
Kinoshita:I agree. I saw the premiere, and I started watching the World Cup in 2002, and the German national team was amazing at that time, so it left an impression on me.
But it was vaguely 'Europe', so rather than going to a specific country, I felt like 'I want to play in Europe'.
Continue to Vol.2
Photo: Kohei Kikuchi
Kinoshita:The first is Mizuno. I wore Mizuno from elementary school to junior high school.
ーーWhat was the reason for wearing Mizuno for the first time?
Kinoshita:I don't remember much, but I think Mizuno caught my eye when I went to buy spikes with my father. At first, I didn't know about Spike at all, so it just happened.
ーーBy the way, when did you start playing soccer?
Kinoshita:It was around the end of my second year of elementary school.
ーーIs there a reason?
Kinoshita:I was invited by a friend. Originally, I wasn't sure whether to play baseball or soccer. My father used to play baseball, so I often played baseball with him before I entered elementary school.
I wasn't on a team, so when I was thinking about joining another team, a good friend of mine was playing soccer, so I somehow ended up going there.
ーーIt was a pity for your father. From high school, you belonged to Yokohama FC Youth. What kind of spikes did you wear in high school?
Kinoshita:I continued to wear Mizuno, and when I entered the Japan national team in each age group, I received the spikes from my sponsor, Adidas, and started wearing Adidas.
ーーAt that time, did you have any particular preferences, such as choosing spikes by appearance or by lightness?
Kinoshita:At the time, I wasn't too particular about it, but I was still concerned about how easy it was to wear. I didn't choose it by appearance such as color. I was not dissatisfied with Mizuno's spikes, so I continued to wear them.
I didn't quit Mizuno, but when I became the representative and started wearing Adidas, I gradually came to think that Adidas is also good.
ーーWhen you were in high school, you went to England to take the Manchester City test and participated in the practice. Please tell us how and why.
Kinoshita:The trigger is an interview with the coach before going up to the youth. At that time, I said, "I want to go abroad."
So, when I thought about what to do, it would be nice if there was an offer, but since I am a youth player, it won't be so easy.
Then, I had to appeal myself, so my teacher introduced me to an agent, who sent me my profile and video, and it became a form of participation in practice.
ーーYou participated in practice when you were in your third year of high school, right? Participating in Manchester City training at that age is a dream world, isn't it?
Kinoshita:Well, I was only 17 at the time.
ーーHow was it when you actually went there? Are you in the top team?
Kinoshita:Basically, I played in second teams such as U21 and U23. But there were some top team players there.
At that time, City had just won the Premier League for the first time, so there were players I usually watch on TV, and I was practicing thinking that it was amazing.
At that time, I remember practicing together with Aguero, David Silva, and Balotelli in the second team, probably for adjustment. But Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz were always in second.
ーーAfter actually working together, how was the level?
Kinoshita:The level is naturally high, but I was desperate, so I was able to play as much as I could.
ーーEven adults get excited just by playing with Manchester City players.
Especially at that time, you were a high school student and young.
Does it feel like a dream? Or did you see them as rivals?
Kinoshita:It's just amazing. At that time, I couldn't speak English, so I couldn't talk to them, so I just watched them.
Tevez was doing muscle training, a companion came when I was eating, and Zabaleta greeted me when I thought I was going to practice, it was amazing.
ーーThat experience at the age of 17 is invaluable. Are there any memorable episodes?
Kinoshita:I couldn't speak English that well, but overseas people shake hands as a greeting, don't they? I was happy that even the top players came to me and said hello.
ーーDidn't you get criticized for being Japanese or something like that? Don't pass the ball.
Kinoshita:I didn't feel anything like that. I think it was really welcome.
ーーBy working with top of the top players, did you gain confidence that you might be able to do it at this level?
Kinoshita:I agree. But the top players are coming for adjustments, so I don't know how seriously they are doing. When it comes to Balotelli, relatively everyone refrains. It feels intimidating. I've been practicing pretty crazy things (laughs).
--in particular?
Kinoshita:Suddenly shooting at the coach with full power and laughing out loud. I don't know the power relationship, but the second coach doesn't say anything. But it wasn't bad, it felt good.
ーーWhat happened after you participated in Manchester City's practice for about a week to 10 days?
Kinoshita:After that, I went to Freiburg (German Bundesliga) for about a week.
ーーFreiburg was also part 1 at the time.Mon. What was it like?
Kinoshita:Due to the schedule, I wasn't able to participate in the top team's practice, so I was doing it mostly with the second team, but I felt that I could do it better in Freiburg. I guess I was used to it at Manchester City earlier.
I felt that the City team was a bit physically ahead of the pack, and although they were both second-teamers, they were all bigger and faster than Freiburg.
--Are first-class players coming to Freiburg for second practice?
Kinoshita:I don't come to practice often. At that time, I didn't participate in league matches just by participating in practice, but what I learned after joining was that players who didn't appear at the top often came to the second match. When there are many people, five or six people come.
ーーInevitably, the level will also be higher. These two teams are the first overseas teams. What inspired you?
Kinoshita:I had fun. My impression was that there were only positive things. I always wanted to go abroad, so every day was very fulfilling as I was able to take the first step towards my dream.
ーーPlease tell us why you wanted to go abroad since you were young.
Kinoshita:Ever since I was a child, I've been watching soccer overseas more often than the J.
ーーDid you often watch the Premier League?
Kinoshita:I agree. I saw the premiere, and I started watching the World Cup in 2002, and the German national team was amazing at that time, so it left an impression on me.
But it was vaguely 'Europe', so rather than going to a specific country, I felt like 'I want to play in Europe'.
Continue to Vol.2
Photo: Kohei Kikuchi
