Van Wel Meskelken, Riki (SC Kambool), who struggles in the Netherlands, interview "Vol.6 I want to be a human who can connect Japan and the Netherlands"
After graduating from high school, he made his professional debut in the Eredivisie (Netherlands 1st division league) without going through the J League. His success in the Netherlands caught the eye, and in 2016, he was selected for the U-23 Japan national team, which is aiming for the Rio Olympics. We asked Mr. Van Wermeskerken Toki about his roots and present in detail. In Vol.6, we asked him about the football situation in the Netherlands, including his second career.
Koike Kikuchi
|
2018/08/17
Click here for Vol.5
―― Did you have a contract with Cambur next time?
edgeI have a contract for another year. Of course, there is one year, so I intend to do so. But if I have a chance, I want to take on the challenge. I didn't get promoted last season, so if I'm allowed to play here for another year, I'll do my best to get promoted.
―― Did you play almost the full game last season?
edgeI agree.
―― How did you feel throughout the season?
edgeA total of three coaches were appointed last season. I changed it twice. Of course, each coach plays a different kind of football, and the team's results have changed completely, so I learned how important a coach is.
―― The fact that it continues to be used among the three directors of various types means that it has absolute power.
edgeAt first, when the manager changed, there were times when I was on the bench, but my strength of working diligently came to life, and I gradually gained more trust. As a result, I returned to the starting line-up, and since then I have been able to maintain my confidence.
―― When you came to Holland in 2013, your English was at the level you learned at school. How did you learn the language?
edgeWhen I first arrived, I couldn't speak at all. So does Dutch. From my second year in the Netherlands, I went to university for two years, where everything was in English, so I was able to brush up.
―― How many years does your university have?
edgeIt is a four-year system. After studying for 2 years, I was finally ready to play soccer like a pro, so I decided to take a break to focus on soccer. I still study at home.
―― I would like to ask about the soccer situation in the Netherlands.Are there many players like you who play while going to school or working part-time when they sign an amateur contract?
edgeThere are many. Everyone is doing it, and many of my current teammates are doing it while studying at university. As for the second career, the Dutch Football Association itself is putting effort into it, so I think it's a really easy environment to do.
――In the current era, multi-power and double careers are progressing, aren't they?
edgeI agree. For example, even if you don't start your own business while playing soccer, I think that studying itself is a plus as a soccer player.
Of course, it's a sport that uses your body, but it's also a sport that uses your mind, so I think it's important to study how you can train your brain.
―― In the Netherlands, there are subsidies for second careers.What?
edgeThere is a system where about half of your salary goes to savings while you are a player. After my career is over, I can take the money and use it as operating funds for my second career, and there are other support systems in place.
-- It's like the pension system in Japan. Keep it in a pool, and when your career as an athlete ends, you can use what you have saved in your next life. Are there any players with interesting careers?
edgeI know a keeper who studied abroad at a university in the United States, and after graduating, he returned to Holland and became a professional player.
Even when I'm talking to my teammates, of course I'm focused on football, but I'm thinking about a lot of things.
For example, there are many players who are always thinking about what they want to do after quitting soccer. The people around me create that kind of environment, so I think it's inevitable that I think that way.
―― What are your plans for your second career?
edgeWhat I want to do comes up on a daily basis, so I write it down in a notebook. As you get older, the breadth you see and the people you meet change, so it keeps getting updated, or rather, the world gets bigger and bigger, so it changes.
―― Do you have a specific desire to do something like this now?
edgeMaybe even if I say it now, things will change. Of course, I also play soccer, but I want to be someone who can connect Japan and Holland. Holland is my roots and I think it is my destiny.
When I returned to Japan, I held a Dutch soccer class in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture as a Cabinet Secretariat Host Town Action (exchange project) following last year.
About 50 junior high school students from the city participated in the event, and they coached Dutch-style practice and ran around the ground while playing games with the children.
The Dutch league will finally start tomorrow, August 18th. This season we will face this red Morelia Neo 2.
We look forward to continued success from Van Wermeskerken and Hori.
(had)
―― Did you have a contract with Cambur next time?
edgeI have a contract for another year. Of course, there is one year, so I intend to do so. But if I have a chance, I want to take on the challenge. I didn't get promoted last season, so if I'm allowed to play here for another year, I'll do my best to get promoted.
―― Did you play almost the full game last season?
edgeI agree.
―― How did you feel throughout the season?
edgeA total of three coaches were appointed last season. I changed it twice. Of course, each coach plays a different kind of football, and the team's results have changed completely, so I learned how important a coach is.
―― The fact that it continues to be used among the three directors of various types means that it has absolute power.
edgeAt first, when the manager changed, there were times when I was on the bench, but my strength of working diligently came to life, and I gradually gained more trust. As a result, I returned to the starting line-up, and since then I have been able to maintain my confidence.
―― When you came to Holland in 2013, your English was at the level you learned at school. How did you learn the language?
edgeWhen I first arrived, I couldn't speak at all. So does Dutch. From my second year in the Netherlands, I went to university for two years, where everything was in English, so I was able to brush up.
―― How many years does your university have?
edgeIt is a four-year system. After studying for 2 years, I was finally ready to play soccer like a pro, so I decided to take a break to focus on soccer. I still study at home.
―― I would like to ask about the soccer situation in the Netherlands.Are there many players like you who play while going to school or working part-time when they sign an amateur contract?
edgeThere are many. Everyone is doing it, and many of my current teammates are doing it while studying at university. As for the second career, the Dutch Football Association itself is putting effort into it, so I think it's a really easy environment to do.
――In the current era, multi-power and double careers are progressing, aren't they?
edgeI agree. For example, even if you don't start your own business while playing soccer, I think that studying itself is a plus as a soccer player.
Of course, it's a sport that uses your body, but it's also a sport that uses your mind, so I think it's important to study how you can train your brain.
―― In the Netherlands, there are subsidies for second careers.What?
edgeThere is a system where about half of your salary goes to savings while you are a player. After my career is over, I can take the money and use it as operating funds for my second career, and there are other support systems in place.
-- It's like the pension system in Japan. Keep it in a pool, and when your career as an athlete ends, you can use what you have saved in your next life. Are there any players with interesting careers?
edgeI know a keeper who studied abroad at a university in the United States, and after graduating, he returned to Holland and became a professional player.
Even when I'm talking to my teammates, of course I'm focused on football, but I'm thinking about a lot of things.
For example, there are many players who are always thinking about what they want to do after quitting soccer. The people around me create that kind of environment, so I think it's inevitable that I think that way.
―― What are your plans for your second career?
edgeWhat I want to do comes up on a daily basis, so I write it down in a notebook. As you get older, the breadth you see and the people you meet change, so it keeps getting updated, or rather, the world gets bigger and bigger, so it changes.
―― Do you have a specific desire to do something like this now?
edgeMaybe even if I say it now, things will change. Of course, I also play soccer, but I want to be someone who can connect Japan and Holland. Holland is my roots and I think it is my destiny.
When I returned to Japan, I held a Dutch soccer class in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture as a Cabinet Secretariat Host Town Action (exchange project) following last year.
About 50 junior high school students from the city participated in the event, and they coached Dutch-style practice and ran around the ground while playing games with the children.
The Dutch league will finally start tomorrow, August 18th. This season we will face this red Morelia Neo 2.
We look forward to continued success from Van Wermeskerken and Hori.
(had)
