10-year-old in Leicester, currently 19-year-old fighting in Belgium Interview with Shuntaro Koga (Union San Girowa) "Why headed for Leicester from Tokyo Verdy"
Shuntaro Koga joined the Leicester of England after graduating from junior high school and was active with the number 10. After that, he moved to the Netherlands and Belgium and now played in Union Saint-Girois in Belgium. I asked about the challenges and future ambitions of a man who was still 19 years old and was walking across Europe.
Koike Kikuchi
|
2018/08/16
-First of all, please tell us why you started playing soccer.
KogaThe biggest reason was that Beckham came to Japan at the 2002 World Cup. I was born in 1998, when I was 4 years old. My father and grandfather were playing baseball, so we played baseball in parallel.
When you join a soccer team at kindergarten and choose one, you choose soccer, and then you play soccer. It ’s small 2 who joined the decent team.
-What was the first spike you wore when you were in Elementary 2?
KogaStarting with training shoes, I started wearing spikes when I was small 3 or small 4. Isn't Japan a soil ground?
I started with shoes that were fastened with tape without Mizuno's strings, and I really wore them from there.
I wore adidas, Nike, ASICS, Diadora and Puma. Even if I didn't fit my feet, I was wearing my favorite player.
I wonder if all the so-called famous places have been conquered.
―― What is the current spike?
KogaI'm Puma now. I was connected to it about a year after I went abroad, and I have been wearing PUMA since then.
This spike is a brand new and not worn. The model I am wearing now is a model called PUMA ONE.
I've been doing it with Puma One for a long time. I like that leather isn't too soft and hard, and it's easy to wear.
-What do you want for spikes and what are the points?
KogaIs the point a texture after all? The texture when touching the ball. If it's too soft, it will not fit in Europe because it often rains.
The texture is just right. When touch is trapped, I don't stick too much, but I take care of touching with my feet as if I was doing it with my feet.
-Where did you play soccer when you were in elementary school?
KogaI first joined Christopher SC, and then I was on a team made by Yasutoshi Miura called FC Toccano. When I was in junior high, I went to Verdi ’s Junior Youth.
When I was in Tocano, I got a paramehiko from Yasu (Yasuto Miura).
I ’ve been wearing Paramehiko since then. I don't wear it now, but after all I have the impression that it is high quality and easy to wear.
-What did you wear at Verdi Junior Youth?
KogaIt was Nike all the time. It's pretty cool too. I wore it while admiring my favorite player.
-Please tell us why you graduated from junior high school and went to Leicester (England Premier League).
KogaIsn't there a period of study in Japan? In the case of Verdi, there is an interview in the summer about whether or not you can go up. At that time, the biggest hope was that I wanted to go abroad.
So, an agent was introduced from Verdi's front, and the person came to see his game. After that, I went to Leicester for about 3 weeks in October in the third year of junior high school, mixed up with practice, and told me to come from the next season.
My parents also decided to go to Leicester because they said "English is not good in England."
-At the time of the third interview, you had a strong will to say “I want to go abroad”.
KogaI agree. Even when I was in elementary school, I always told my parents “I want to go abroad!”. However, since I was small 6, I didn't know anything, and I was still a child, so my parents didn't forgive me.
I'm from Beckham, and I've been watching overseas soccer for a long time, and in my third year of junior high school, I communicated my will and made it feel like it was in shape.
-Did you try to speak English while you were in junior high school?
KogaNo, just feelings (laughs) 3rd year junior high school is still a kid. I said in my mouth, but I didn't know what would happen and I couldn't imagine it.
Of course, I studied a little before I went, but it's not something I can easily learn in a little. I felt somehow in English since I went to Leicester.
-What was the response when you participated in the practice in the 3-week test?
KogaIt was simply fun. Tests are not in Japan. Verdi also plays special soccer in Japan, and when he went out with Verdi and went out, it was fun to see another view.
Well, Japan and England are different, but Verdi to England is still different.
I was much taller and larger in Verdi, but I was the smallest in Leicester. That was also interesting.
The players who worked together at that time and debuted the next year are making their debut in the Premier League at Leicester this year.
In addition, about 3 people have debuted in the premiere. There are some players who have played a lot of matches in the starter, so I think it ’s amazing and I ca n’t lose.
At that time, I thought I was better and I thought I could go Leicester. .
-5 years ago?
KogaIt ’s still 4 years ago. When I watched it on TV, I felt that it became quite adult and lonely.
Continue to Vol.2
Photo: Kohei Kikuchi
KogaThe biggest reason was that Beckham came to Japan at the 2002 World Cup. I was born in 1998, when I was 4 years old. My father and grandfather were playing baseball, so we played baseball in parallel.
When you join a soccer team at kindergarten and choose one, you choose soccer, and then you play soccer. It ’s small 2 who joined the decent team.
-What was the first spike you wore when you were in Elementary 2?
KogaStarting with training shoes, I started wearing spikes when I was small 3 or small 4. Isn't Japan a soil ground?
I started with shoes that were fastened with tape without Mizuno's strings, and I really wore them from there.
I wore adidas, Nike, ASICS, Diadora and Puma. Even if I didn't fit my feet, I was wearing my favorite player.
I wonder if all the so-called famous places have been conquered.
―― What is the current spike?
KogaI'm Puma now. I was connected to it about a year after I went abroad, and I have been wearing PUMA since then.
This spike is a brand new and not worn. The model I am wearing now is a model called PUMA ONE.
I've been doing it with Puma One for a long time. I like that leather isn't too soft and hard, and it's easy to wear.
-What do you want for spikes and what are the points?
KogaIs the point a texture after all? The texture when touching the ball. If it's too soft, it will not fit in Europe because it often rains.
The texture is just right. When touch is trapped, I don't stick too much, but I take care of touching with my feet as if I was doing it with my feet.
-Where did you play soccer when you were in elementary school?
KogaI first joined Christopher SC, and then I was on a team made by Yasutoshi Miura called FC Toccano. When I was in junior high, I went to Verdi ’s Junior Youth.
When I was in Tocano, I got a paramehiko from Yasu (Yasuto Miura).
I ’ve been wearing Paramehiko since then. I don't wear it now, but after all I have the impression that it is high quality and easy to wear.
-What did you wear at Verdi Junior Youth?
KogaIt was Nike all the time. It's pretty cool too. I wore it while admiring my favorite player.
-Please tell us why you graduated from junior high school and went to Leicester (England Premier League).
KogaIsn't there a period of study in Japan? In the case of Verdi, there is an interview in the summer about whether or not you can go up. At that time, the biggest hope was that I wanted to go abroad.
So, an agent was introduced from Verdi's front, and the person came to see his game. After that, I went to Leicester for about 3 weeks in October in the third year of junior high school, mixed up with practice, and told me to come from the next season.
My parents also decided to go to Leicester because they said "English is not good in England."
-At the time of the third interview, you had a strong will to say “I want to go abroad”.
KogaI agree. Even when I was in elementary school, I always told my parents “I want to go abroad!”. However, since I was small 6, I didn't know anything, and I was still a child, so my parents didn't forgive me.
I'm from Beckham, and I've been watching overseas soccer for a long time, and in my third year of junior high school, I communicated my will and made it feel like it was in shape.
-Did you try to speak English while you were in junior high school?
KogaNo, just feelings (laughs) 3rd year junior high school is still a kid. I said in my mouth, but I didn't know what would happen and I couldn't imagine it.
Of course, I studied a little before I went, but it's not something I can easily learn in a little. I felt somehow in English since I went to Leicester.
-What was the response when you participated in the practice in the 3-week test?
KogaIt was simply fun. Tests are not in Japan. Verdi also plays special soccer in Japan, and when he went out with Verdi and went out, it was fun to see another view.
Well, Japan and England are different, but Verdi to England is still different.
I was much taller and larger in Verdi, but I was the smallest in Leicester. That was also interesting.
The players who worked together at that time and debuted the next year are making their debut in the Premier League at Leicester this year.
In addition, about 3 people have debuted in the premiere. There are some players who have played a lot of matches in the starter, so I think it ’s amazing and I ca n’t lose.
At that time, I thought I was better and I thought I could go Leicester. .
-5 years ago?
KogaIt ’s still 4 years ago. When I watched it on TV, I felt that it became quite adult and lonely.
Continue to Vol.2
Photo: Kohei Kikuchi
