Communication

Hi, guys. It's been a long time. 

 What I've been thinking recently is that an accumulation of a conversation is the only way to build up an interpersonal communication, in particular, I think you should bear it in mind with full of awareness if you were in a foreigh country. It's because the people you face in a foreigh country are totally different to the people you've grown up with. They have different race, personality, language and way of thinking.  

 In my football team, there are a variety of players in race. As a matter of course, the majority is whites. You can see some blacks and asians in every team's squad, but it's not still a big number.　

 Basically, they usually tend to be in their own group to kick a ball around before every training starts. I mean, they want to be with their friends who have the same race. But what you should do in this kind of situation is to find the courage to get into the group, and trying to shake down. If you can keep doing this both on and off the pitch with decent football skills as a footballer, you will be able to be loved by most of the team-mates so quickly. But it's not that easier than it sounds like.

 A communication with your coach is very important as well. If you have something you want to talk to the coach about a game or something else, I strongly recommend you make a move. The worst thing is that you get misunderstood without saying anything. They are not the people you have known since before. Bear in mind that you could get everything messed up more easily than you think in a foreigh country.

 

  お久しぶりです。

　最近思うのは、やっぱり人と人とは会話が一番分かり合える手段なんだなということ。当たり前ですが、日本人同士だとなんとなく会話せずとも感じられることが、異国人同士だと伝わらなかったり、誤解されたりしてしまう。特に白人とはね。

　チームでは大部分を占める白人選手。黒人やブラウン系の人種、アジア人もいるにはいるけど、やっぱり白人が多い。彼らはよくその人種でグループになってつるむことが多いけど、そこを割って入っていく勇気もまた必要。逆に中途半端な英語より、あんまり話せない方が、がむしゃらで案外受け入れられたりしたりもする。からかわれているのと紙一重かもしれないけど。

　そして何より、サッカーに対して彼らに「こいつは本気やな」と思わせること。指示にしても、試合中、試合前、ハーフタイムなど気づいたことをしっかり相手に伝える。その伝える語学力がなくても、紙に書いてでも伝えようとする姿勢が、彼らを本気の意思疎通ができる一番、そして唯一の方法だと最近改めて思う。

　監督にも、起用法、戦術に意見があれば、個人的に話しにいくことも大事。もしかしたらそれがマイナスに作用することがあるかもしれないが、自分が納得できる説明があれば次に生かせる。一番いけないのは、言いたいことがある、疑問があるのに何も言わずに指をくわえて「イエスマン」になってしまうこと。　

　すべては自己主張。コミュニケーションとは自己主張そのものですね。

training off the pitch and ice-bath recovery.

 Hi, guys.

 The game this weekend is a winnable to us. Of course, every game in this league is tough for any team, but it's very important not to drop points that could potentially win.  

 In this league, which is non-professional, all the teams don't have a training session every day. most of teams usually train 2 or 3 times a week, plus a game every weekend. As you can see, almost half of weeks are off days. This is what I vent!! It's because I have't erected my ideal work-out routine on the off-days yet. In particular, the day after game for recovery and the day before game for preparation of the game are a bit thorny to me. The thing is, though, I can't stop pushing myself at every training as I don't just want to compromise what I do every day, but it sometime turned out a bit harmful after all with heavy legs on the game day. But it can't be helped because I didn't really put in the time and effort to practice when I was in high-school and university in Japan. It's for as many as 7 years!! I still regret about those days, and am really desperate to make up for the lost time. It's a huge disadvantage for me to compete with other elite players, but it's also my big motivation to keep training. As a result, it has driven me up.

 When it comes to recovery, Icebath is alway set in the club-house, so after every training session and every home-game, we can make use of it freely.

 Anyway, I try a variety of training and recovery methods aggressively. And I believe it will benefit me someday when I retire and become a coach in the future.

 

 

  ども。

　今週も強豪です。でも勝ちますよ！ってことで、今日はちょっとトレーニングについて。今のチームは練習が毎日あるわけではありません。試合前日と後日２日間は休みのときがほとんどです。ここで常に悩ましのがその調整の仕方。特に試合前日の過ごし方と、試合後２日間の過ごし方。

　今までは、常に近くの公園などにいって体を動かして調整していたんですが、今はもっぱらジムで調整しています。ただ、どれだけの量をこなせばいいのか、正直ずっと手探り状態。これでいいかなと思ってしまえば、なんか妥協してるみたいで嫌でもっとしてみたり、やりきった状態になればやはり次の日は体が重い。

　自分は高校・大学とまともにサッカーしてなかったので、絶対的な練習量が他の日本人選手と明らかに違うというコンプレックスがあるので、どうしてもそれを取り返そうときつい練習をしてしまうことが個人練習ではほとんどです。「今日はこれくらいでいいか・・」で終わってしまうのが、たまらなく不安になってしまうからです。「本当にこれで足りてるのか・・、もっとした方がいいのでは・・」と。今年はOFFにガンガン筋トレしてたんで、それを維持するくらいの負荷で抑えていますが、常にまだ葛藤してます。もっとやりたいけど、チーム練習や試合に影響しては本末転倒になりかねない。

　今年は、チームのクラブハウスに水風呂が常に用意されているので、練習・試合後には必ず入ってます。これが疲れをかなり取ってくれるので助かってます。

　こういった個人での調整が、指導者になった時に生かせると思って、前向きに色々変えて試していかないといけないですね。

vs Wolves

 Hi, guys.

 The season in 2014 has just begun!! We had the first game of the season last Saturday against last year's runners-up, Wolves FC. 

 I was in a starting line-up as a right back where I rarely play, but I've decided to play there over this whole season with full of confidence. I ended up being sent a substitute about 60mins that I didn't totally get it.. fuck...

 However, The first 45mins was not in our pace, and had been played dominantly with so many chances to be scored. We had our hands full barely creating one good chance to score in the half. To be honest, I expected we'd be able to play far better than we did in that game, and obviously, each one of us could've done a lot better. 

 Anyway, the season just started, and we still have so many games left. We have to put our best effort in the next game to bounce back and get the first point. In the first 10mins, I have to admit that I felt so much intensity, pressure and tensions in the game that made me more nervous. But I can't put the same excuse any more. All we are looking at the next round is just 3 points!!!!!!!!!

 MUST WIN!! 

 

 

　リーグ開幕！！

　今日、一発目の試合がありました。結果は０－２で負け。相手は正直強かったけど、勝てない相手ではなかったので悔しい。自分はスタメンで出たが、後半に代えられた。納得いかんが、前を向いてやっていくしかない。ハーフタイムに監督にちょっと反抗したのがあかんかったか・・。

　来週もまた強豪と対戦になるけど、勝つしかないね。

　今年はなんとしてでも、上位４チームによるプレーオフに進みたい。そしてカップ戦もできるだけ上まで残りたいね。

　サイドバックという新たなポジションで挑戦する今年。選手としてまだまだ幅を広げられたらと思う。現役を続けると決めた以上は、すべてをこれに捧げたい。

　今年も応援よろしくお願いします！

Silver boots tournament

Hi, guys.

There are only two weeks to go into the new season. And the fixture has been launched that we will take on Wolves FC, who was runners-up last season. 

Recently, we've been playing in an annual pre-season tournement hosted by Lions FC, who was the winners of the league last year.

We played the third game last Sunday, and so far, we've claimed a win and two losses from last three matches in the comp. We are still building up the system, and searching on the best formation that we should adopt through the season. We totally have a new squad, for me, a new player as well, so we still need time to understand each other to play much better.

And I'm also challenging with the position where I've never played on before. It's a full-back. Basically, I didn't use to like a defensive role at all, and in fact, I was too shit at it. However, I've tried most of other positions before, but it didn't get me anywhere, honestly. 

This year would be my last opportunity to chase my dream without any prospective results, so I'd like to challenge myself with an unknown zone. There's been heaps of challenges that I have to readjust and clarify them into myself. But they are all positives. 

More haste, less speed.

 

 

　開幕まであと２週間。

　そして毎年恒例のプレシーズン中のカップ戦が開かれてます。シーズンへの試金石というか、ここでの成績がシーズン序盤戦を占う意味で重要になってきます。

　結局３試合して１勝２敗とよくなかったけど、今日はその１勝できた試合がありました。初戦は登録が間に合わず出てませんが、あとの２試合はフルで出させてもらいました。しかもポジションが左バックに今日が右バック・・・。というのも今年は初めからサイドバックでチャレンジしようと思ってたので自分は驚いてませんが、自分を知る人らからすればサイドバックできんのか？って感じでしょう。笑

　１発目はちょっとバタついたけど、今日は修正できるところはしっかりできたと思います。もちろん課題はまだまだありますし、事実、後半ラスト２０分は時計を何回みたことか。体力的にほんときつかった。監督はすごく攻撃的に行けということで、上下運動がかなりきつい。さすがにコンバートしたてで長友にはなれません。心肺機能は飛躍的に伸びないので、少しずつ上げていき、あとは試合中のペース配分を見直さないといけません。サイドバックの極意、経験者教えて！

　しかし点絡まないとなぁ。サイドバックやけど点とらないと。まずシュートまで持っていかないといけない。課題を一つずつ乗り越えていきます！

Logan city Multicultual Cup

Hi, guys. 

As you can see in the title of this entry, I took part in a day-long football tournament as a menber of Ghana team, who a friend of mine is a skipper. There were 16 teams in the competition. And from the first game, it was a knockout stage, so once you lose, you'd be kicked out.

Actually, I didn't think we'd make it through to the finals, but we made it in the end.. wow!! We had 3 consecutive wins to get to it, and two third was on penalties. haha We were so lucky!!

What I was surprised at when I got to the field in the morning was that most of the teams in the comp were African teams which means I had to be concerned about getting injured in every game!!!!! As you know, Africans are so physical and ridiculously vicious on the pitch, especially when they are taken a lead, the situation I'm really concerned about get much worse as they get more excited to bounce back. 

As I had expected, many controvesial judgement occured throughout the tournament. In my opinion, some of them were an fair judgement, but they didn't just agree with the ones referee made. They can't just shut their mouth unless they whinge at referee once.

In the finals, they put too much intensity into the performances with so many collisions and filthy tackles everywhere in the game. We ended up lose the game by 1-0, but the second half was the worst 45 minutes I've ever played in. Every time someone receive a ball, a defender went a nasty challenge on the ball, and the game was stopped by ref..... Fuck.. sick of it.....

I actually a bit felt compassion to the ref as he had to control the crappest game in the world. He should have got paid for his bravery and patience. I totally paid respect to him as soon as he blew the final whistle.  

On plus note, I got given a medal for runners-up. It wasn't just a hectic day but also an exciting day!!!!!!! 

 

 

　タイトルにあるように、この前所属リーグとは別の１日トーナメントに参加してきた。参加チームは１６チームで決勝までいけば１日に４試合。１試合目は２０分ハーフだったのが回を追うごとに長くなっていき、決勝は３０分ハーフ。きつかった・・・。

　結局PK２試合もあったが運良く勝ち抜き、決勝まで辿り着いた。決勝では０－１で負けちゃったんだけども。まぁ記念のメダルももらえたし、楽しかったね。自分は友達の誘いでガーナチームに参加。というか、この大会のほとんどがアフリカンのチーム。荒いし、身体能力頼りのフィジカルサッカー。怪我人は出るわ、試合中揉め合いはよく起こるわ・・・。

　決勝前、あくまで非公式の大会だからあんまり熱くなるなって話してたのに、始まったら荒れ放題。ハーフタイムには相手の監督がこっちにきて、おれの従兄弟を削ったら殺すぞ！って怒鳴り込んできたしね。笑

　そして終了間際に向こうがボックスの中でハンド。PKか！？と思ったらNO！！もうそっから試合になりませんでした。ここでは書けないくらい罵声を主審に浴びせてたからね。試合が終わってもこっちの怒りは収まらず、まだ詰め寄って抗議。

　どうやら審判はうちの選手の友達みたいで、「おい、おれは今日審判だけど、その前に俺達友達じゃないか！」って叫んでたのが見てて辛かった。恐らく、この審判は今日審判として裁いたのを後悔してんじゃないかな。もう絶交くらいの勢いだったし。

　とまぁなんとも熱い、過酷なトーナメント。ほぼフルで出たので、今日の練習までまだ足に疲労残ってました。怪我せず終われたのが一番。楽しいのが一番やね。

Recovery sessions

Hi, guys.

I might've mentioned before that I'm in trials with few clubs. And there've been many trial games and training sessions as intense as games. 

What I really care about lately is how I prevend from getting injuries such as muscle strain in hamstrings, knee ligaments and tendons in legs. To be honest, I'm not that young as a footballer, so I need to take much more time for recovery than when I was younger after every game and training as it obviously leads to a consistent performance.

 I know some tips for a body recovery. 

According to a specialist, "Refuel within half an hour of the game finishing – that’s the best time for muscles to recoup energy. A milk chocolate drink gives you protein and carbohydrate in one hit.

An ice bath will definitely get rid of aches and pains in the short term. Aim for 10 minutes at 10 degrees.

Eat green veg and foods high in carbohydrates and protein within two hours of the match to replenish your depleted energy stores. Add spices like ginger which will help to boost your recovery.

Make sure you get at least eight hours sleep and avoid alcohol, TV and caffeine an hour before you finally hit the sack.

The day after a game, hit the bike or pool for 30 minutes. Then stretch all the key muscle groups for 30 seconds. Make use of a foamroller [available in gyms and easy to buy online] to massage tight spots."

Let me know something else if you have an inkling of it.  

I'd be more than happy to hear the tips I've never known.

 

 

　どうも。

　最近、試合が続いています。練習も多いですし、練習も試合形式で毎回がトライアルも兼ねているので、試合並みの強度で行います。そこで気になるのが怪我です。自分はサッカー選手としてもう若くはない年齢に来てるので、いかに練習の疲れを短時間で取って、次の練習・試合に向かえるかがパフォーマンスにすごく影響してきます。

　そこで、最近知り合いの高級マンションの屋上にある、プールとジャグジー付きの浴槽がある場所を借りてリカバリーに当てています。ジムやサウナもあるので非常に助かりますね。

　最近は左サイドで使われることが多いですが、走る量も半端ないので疲労もすごい。気温も高いので、昨日の試合は途中呼吸困難になりそうなくらい酸欠状態でしたね。笑

 専門家の意見としては、トレーニング後３０分以内のたんぱく質、炭水化物の摂取。水風呂（１０分程度）、２時間以内に緑黄色野菜を含んだ食事をたんぱく質、炭水化物を中心に取る。トレーニングの次の日はジムのバイク漕ぎやプールで約３０分費やして、その後マッサージも入れながら入念にストレッチ。が基本のようです。

　皆さん、何か良い体のリカバリーの方法があれば教えてください！

　食べ物でも、トレーニング方法でもなんでもいいです。

Recently

Happy New Year!!

How have you been in 2014 so far? I've been busy playing football as ever.

It's already been more than a month since I came back here from the holidays in Japan. Time flew by so fast!! 

Recently, I've been looking for a team, who can play in 2014 season. I've already been to few teams and joined some training sessions. Luckily, I've been offered by most of the teams I've been to, but in a nut shell, I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'm going to say no to all the teams I've been offered by. Come to think of it, That's a luxurious concern for me compared to last year.

But I like challenging myself. If there are two ways just ahead of me, I of course pick a harder one. What will be, will be, right?

So I'm in trials with one of the best clubs in the state at the moment. This is the state of play. Lately I can't help but think of the meaning of trials for those who have been in. The word can be replaced by more specific words like a Survival Game. There are 20 seats in the squad, and some of them from last year have already secured their spots of 20, and the rest contests for the limited spots which are so competitive to seize.

But this is the way I am. I just believe in what I've done for the opportunity I've nearly got at.

missing it means my career is immediately shut down..

I will just give it everything I've got.

Bring it on!!

 

 

  遅くなりましたが、あけましておめでとうございます。

　今年もこのブログ同様、よろしくお願いします。

　と、形式的な挨拶はこれくらいにして、最近の状況ですが、変わらずサッカーですね。こっちに帰ってきてもう１ヶ月以上経ちましたが、その間に４チームほど練習参加しました。その中から３チームほど誘われていたのですが、すべて断りを入れることに決め、今参加しているチームに照準を絞っています。シーズンは３月頭からなのですが、もうプレシーズンは始まってるので今から競争です。生き残り合戦、イス取り合戦です。

　ダメだったときのために色々他のチームとの連絡を残しておこうかなとも思ったのですが、各チームに正直に自分の意思を伝え、退路を断ちました。その方が自分らしいかなと。後先考えず、なんとかなるんじゃないかと。もちろん勝算あってのことですし、今週から本格的に練習試合、プレシーズンのカップ戦なんかも入ってくるので、安定したプレーを毎試合出していかなければいけません。

　今回は、嬉しいことに色んな可能性がある中で、悩み抜いて選んだチーム。理由は優勝が狙えるチームで、施設がリーグトップクラスであること。

　しっかりサインして、開幕を必ず迎えます。

African competition

 Hi, everyone.

 Last weekend, I was asked by a former teammate to play for his team named for Ghana. All members of the team has its heritage but myself. The league is so called African nation's cup tournament in which 12 teams(all african teams) in total has been playing for over 3 months every year.

 There were sprinkling of whites playing out there, but I didn't see any asians there at all. I was the only one asian who creeped into the field and play with all africans. haha 

 To tell the truth, I don't like to play with these types of people as they are so rough on the pitch!! I very much feel the disadvantage of physical ability agaist their natural power. They are generally so fast and strong way above the average of asians. 

 As anticipated, I got smashed by the defender who faced me in the game. He came from behind and smashed me as soon as I got to the ball in the middle area. We never call it a good challenge. It was just a stupid and dangerous tackle!! And the next moment I realized that my whole body was off the ground, and hit the ground headfirst. I had the biggest concussion I've never had before, and felt that the brain still shook with no sense of balance, and my mouth started being numb.

 But the coach still urged me to go back to the pitch despite I frowed on it!!

 Luckily, I felt the condition had eased up after few minites, and he still looked like he wanted to send me back, so I did and play to the end.

 We couldn't win the game in the end, but I really enjoyed it with full of intensity in the game. I loved it. And I have to be skilled in full of physical contacts and collisions on the pitch through the game like this.

 

 

 

　どうも。

　今日はアフリカはガーナからの移民の友人に誘われ試合してきました。実は２人ほど元チームメートがいて、彼らがオフシーズンに試合してるのが今回のアフリカンリーグ。その名の通り黒人だけのリーグで、それぞれの生まれ故郷をチーム名にして１２チームが参加して約３か月リーグ戦を行うみたい。

　白人もチラホラしてたけど、アジア人は自分だけでした。正直あんまりアフリカンとプレーするのは好きではない。荒いから怪我してしまう危険性が高いから。実際、今日もボールに触ったところを思いっきり後ろから削られて頭から落ちました。軽い脳震盪起こして、視界は揺れるし、口の中は痺れてて、立つこともできず。

　そこでグラウンドの外に出て、監督が一言、「いけるだろ？」。　「・・・無理っぽい」と答えたのに、１分後にまた来て、「どうだ？いけるだろ？」、「わかった」と結局また２，３分して戻りました。危険ですよねぇ。荒れたピッチで何度も蹴られたし試合後は痛いところだらけ。けど楽しいんだわ。

　怪我を気にして、激しいコンタクトを避けてしまうときがある自分は、それを克服するチャンスでもある。フィジカル面が鍛えられるね。ジムトレーニングも成果が見え始めてる。来週はもっとガンガンいきたい。

　

Police Cup

 Hi, how's goin??

 I took part in a huge competition last Sunday called 'Police Cup' implying a multicutural football competition in Brissy. It's an annual comp, apprently. As you know, Australia has been composed of a number of multicultural communities and refugees. And also some local football clubs here still have the root of  where they are from. It seems like dying away as the time goes on, but it's a very interesting part of Australia comparing to my country cuz we don't have that culture.

 So, this competition was made up of 64 teams having a original root of each team, and played over the last two weekends. It was such a big comp!!

 I myself played for three diffrent teams over the comp. In the first weekend, I joined the team Japan, who was one of the favorites to win the comp as they were runners-up last year. We fought three game on the day in the qualifiers, and smashed all of the matches!! Great start!!

 But, I didn't play for them in the second week, which was the knock-out round to decide the champions as they had already had heaps of players who were keen to play, so I played for Vietnam and Afgans, whom friends of mine had been playing there. I couldn't get the result with Vietnam, but we made it to the final with Afgans after beating three matches in a row, so the game in the final was the forth game for the both teams on the day...

 And... We won it!! Yes!!!

 That was a soooooo long and hectic day with so much fun. We ended up holding up the trophy at the end of the day, so that drove away the fatigue out of my bod.

 However, my hamstrings in both legs are still something funny though... 

 

 

　先週の日曜日にあるサッカーの大会に参加してきました。police cupといって、異文化コミュニティ対抗戦って日本語ではなるのかな？Multicutural competitionと英語では表記されてました。要するに、色んな移民達が一緒の街に住んでいるオーストラリア。もちろん、それぞれの国のルーツを持っています。

　自分は日本。ある黒人はガーナ、あるアジア人はベトナム、ある白人はスコットランドみたいな感じで、その人の親の世代でオーストラリアに移り住んできた人は、その国のバックグラウンドがあります。そういう特定の国に関わる人達だけでチームを作って、小さなワールドカップをしようというのがこの大会。延べ６４の国と地域のチームが集まり２週に分けて行われました。

　１週目は１日に３試合（すべて２０分ハーフ）。２週目は決勝ラウンドで負けたら終わりの一発勝負。決勝まで行けば一日なんと４試合・・・。自分は１週目は日本チームで出て、２週目はベトナムチームとアフガニスタンチームを掛け持ちで出場。

　日本チームは元々人が多かったので遠慮したんですが、２週目にあたるこの前の日曜日はベトナムチームで２試合。アフガンのチームはなんと決勝まで勝ち進んでしまった為に４試合の合計６試合を１日でプレーしました。色んな友達に「お前はクレイジーだ！」なんて言われながら、ほとんどフルで出て、最後に優勝できたのでよかったです。

　色んな国の選手がいて、色んな友達に誘われて出れるのは幸せなことです。サッカーの事なら頼まれたら断れない。そしてここで出会ったたくさんのサッカーを通じて得た友人は、自分にとって大きな財産に今後なっていくと思います。

　しかし疲れた。次の日の疲労感は半端じゃなかったし、今もまだハムストリング張ってます。笑

off season!!

 Hi, mates.

 The footy season has just finished off, and a long long off season has just begun!! I feel like it was so quick for last 7 months. Of course I'm not totally satisfied with the season's result as neither a team nor individual. However, it was a meaningful and rewarding season for me. 

 I've found myself that I'm still improving all aspects of playing, and seeing what I have to do for the following season.

 But I need a short break off the training. Perhaps, I will be keen for a training again after a while. That's the perfect time to prepare for the next season. See you soon!!

 

 

　シーズンが終わりました。正直短かったかな。

　結果は納得のいくものではけしてなかったけど、得られることも多かった。成長している部分と、これからオフの間にレベルを上げないといけない部分がたくさんある。今から来季が楽しみです。

　とりあえず、ちょっと休みます。あんまり休んでる暇もないんですが、体に問いかけながらまたモチベーションが沸々と沸いてくると思うので、自分のタイミング、ペースでトレーニングを再会したいと思っています。

　あと、まだ先ですが来月の終わりに日本に少し戻ります。皆さん是非会いましょう！

Young talent and accumulated fatigue

 Hey, boys. How are you?? 

 Recently, I have been surprised at the youngsters in my team who are improving incredibly fast!! As you know, a mental strength for each player counts so big in football. Of course the higher you play in, the more it counts. And also how do you strength build it up?? The only one way to do that is to get as much experience of playing a official game as you can. 

 It's all depends on the coach who you work with, but the coach in my team likes to give young players a chance to play. Lately, I've seen them play in the same field, and they obviously make some big impacts to us game by game. It's pretty impressive and stimulating to me. 

 Because of their age, they could jump up to the next level much easier than I do as I can see their quick improvements with full of confidence between a game and the next game. That's what they have reminded me of recently.

 On another note, I've been suffering an accumlated fatigue. It doen't really matter to me now cuz the season is nearly over, but I mean my recovery speed from the fatique like a muscle pain on my legs after every game is getting slower and slower as I get older. I know it naturally happens to everyone, but I will have to find a good way for recovery to shorten the time to back up. I do stretching at least twice a day, and go for a job to make my whole body supple. However, it's not enough. I need to take in more technical method based on advices of a physical profession.

 I'm wondering how I address myself to this serions concern. Any advises?? 

 

 

 

　最近になって色々と気づくことが多い。それは若い選手の成長速度の速さと、粗さ。監督は積極的にユース上がりの選手を使っているけど、シーズン始めは２軍の試合でも自信なさげにプレーしていたのが、何かのきっかけで自信を得てプレーが飛躍的に良くなること。若手を使い続けるというのは監督にとって我慢が必要だろうけど、一度波に乗ればどこまでも成長していく。

　年齢を重ねると、一つ階段を上るのに時間をすごく必要とするけど、十代の選手は１週間で１段も２段も上がっていける。そういう成長を見ているのはすごく楽しいね。自分も負けれられない。

　もう一つは、疲労がやっぱり取れにくくなってきているということ。まだ筋肉系のトラブルは起こっていないけど、これから調整法を全く変えないでいると、肉離れや大きな怪我につながるかもっていう危機感を最近抱いてる。試合前も、今年の後半から試合２日前から極端に練習量を落としてる。試合当日にどれだけフレッシュな状態でっていうのを考えてのことだけど、最初は練習量を落とすのに、かなり勇気がいったし、運動量が落ちるんじゃないかと不安だったけど、試合日に疲れを全く残さない方が返って限界まで走れるということに気づけたのはよかった。あとは試合後の疲労をどうやっていかに早く落とすか。何か良い方法はないだろうか。

　最近は生き残るためにＤＦに力を入れたり、でもやっぱり前目の方がやりやすかったりと色々試行錯誤しているけど、今年は色々と良い経験ができてると前向きに捉えてるし、来季に向けてしっかり準備していきたい。

vs Peninsula Power

 Hi, guys.

 We took on a very strong and decent side last weekend. As you can predict easily, the result was devastating. We got totally destroyed in every aspect of the game. They just controlled the ball posession and overcome every part of the game such as 1on1 situation, transition for attacking, consistency as a team and fitness level...　you name it!! 

 I understand that there is a huge gap between them and us in quality both as a team and individual since some of their squads have a professional career before such as A-league and some European clubs. But what makes me piss off all the time is their attitude at every training session. I don't want to make a sloppy talk here, but let me whine only today. Lol

 Most of my team-mates never play seriously at training. it looks like they just chill out with friends with kicking a ball around. The coach also doesn't care what they do at training!! WTF!!  Just laughing, taking shit and whinging about referee after losing a game without blaming themselves first. They are really good at shifting the blame onto others. This makes nothing better.. 

 I know they have a certain skill, quality and passion for football as they had shown them in the beginning. I think a change of the regulation about relegation/promotion battle deprived of their motivation. As I have told you in earlier blog few times, no team will be relegated to lower division after this season. So basically, if we win or lose a game, it really doesn't matter to us. It's virtually a little short of throwaway match..

 But of course I don't want to waste any game in which I play. So I could've done a lot more for the team by exercising a leadership. To be honest, I've never been entrusted a captain role, but it must have been the time to do. I'm so sorry not to to that now. It's one of my challenge to solve in the next season!!

 

 

  今日は上位との試合。

　結果は完敗でした。個々の差、チーム力・・・。もっと言えば局面での１対１、連動性、運動量、そして攻撃の迫力。こっちは攻守の切り替えが遅すぎる。取られたときに一人さぼれば、もうスルーパス通されてＧＫと１対１なんて状況が前半だけでも何回もあった。

　相手は元Ａリーグや海外のプロリーグでプレーしてる選手が中心で、年齢も３０歳を超えてる選手も多い。こっちは２０代そこらで、最近の練習態度も半ば遊び半分。この際グチになって申し訳ないが言わせてもらう。負けてもヘラヘラ、練習でもヘラヘラ。負けたら責任転嫁がこのチームの得意技。審判があーだこーだ、監督があーだこーだ。

　能力は高いし、うまい選手が多いのにそれを試合に出せない。おまけに、コーチの息子、チームマネージャーの息子も所属していて、監督は彼らを優先的に使う。本当は使いたくないのか知らないけど、まぁ使わざる終えない無言のプレッシャーがあるんだろうとは想像がつくし、そんな理不尽なことは海外生活で慣れたけど、試合に出すのは文句言わないが、彼らの練習態度、試合への準備の仕方まで監督が気を使って怒れないようじゃ、話にならない。

　今シーズンはリーグの規定で降格がない。それが決まってから練習態度がさらにおかしくなった。「どうせ勝っても負けても一緒だろ？」って顔に書いてあるのがわかる。さらにこのチームは完全に白人と黒人とでグループができてしまってる。試合では一緒に出るのに、白人は白人を庇い、黒人がミスをすると非難する。少数派の黒人は居心地悪そうにプレーをし、縮こまる悪循環。この光景はオーストラリアでは当たり前やけど、すべては強烈なリーダーシップを持ってる選手がいなかったのが原因だと思う。強いチームは、試合中にしょーもないミスが起こると怒鳴りつけてる。このチームは誰がミスしても、ムスッとするだけで、チームとして解決しようとせず個人の言い合いで終わってしまう。

　自分がそういう選手になれなかったのが一番悔しい。年齢もある程度上で経験もある自分がそうなるべきだった。次への大きな課題。

　前置きが長くなってしまったが、今日の試合自分は右サイドバックで途中でトップ下に変わり、終盤またサイドバックで最後までピッチにいたけど、便利屋だわ。完全に。

　来週で今シーズンも最後です。勝って必ず終わります！

GEORGE BEST

 George Best. 

 If you are well up in football, maybe you have ever heard his name at least once before.  Me? Of course yes I have. But to be honest, all I had known about him is only his name, have never seen him play like on Youtube, and I had no idea what he was like. Why I started watching his playing video was that one of my workmates who is from North Ireland touted me to watch it once, and he alway told me that George is still my best player ever all time. It's worth watching!! He said to me. 

 Actually it was worth it!! If you want to know more about him, you better go to his wiki for the biography. Briefly speaking, he was born in Belfast, North Ireland. He was prized the Ballon d'Or at the youngest age ever when he was only 22 at Man U. Then he became a alcohol addict, and was tainted by gambling in his late 20's that pushed him into the early retirement. 

 Do you know his famous slogan that his fans made up before he died. It's still written on a wall in his hometown. 

 'Maradona good, Pele better, George BEST'

 I think so too.

 

 

 

　ジョージ・ベスト

　サッカー通なら名前くらいは聞いたことはあると思います。けどどんなプレーをする選手かまでは・・・。自分もそうでした。知人のアイルランド人がしきりに彼のYOUTUBEを見てみろと言ってたので、先日試しに見てみたんですが、一気に虜になりましたね。こんな選手がヨーロッパにいたんだと。こんなドリブルができる欧米人がいたんだと。

　北アイルランド出身でマンＵのレジェンド。２２歳で史上最年少でバロンドール。２０代後半で酒やギャンブルによるトラブルが増え引退。ジェットコースターのようなサッカー人生。

　そして彼への有名なスローガンがあります。これは後に、彼の生まれ故郷であるベルファストの壁に書かれることになります。

　「Maradona good, Pele better, George BEST」

　日本語訳は不要でしょう。

　特にこのYoutubeの６位のゴールが秀逸です。是非！

 

Last two games to go!!

 Hi, guys.

 I haven't posted on my blog about football recently.. 

 The season has come in the last month to go. And the league called BPL where my team is reorganized before this season started as a new league statewide called NPL has just begun since this year, so some teams in the league I'm playing now who have enough budget to compete with in the new league were relocated to it before this season, and BPL decided to promote some sound teams financially from division one league which is below BPL to make the number of teams up.

 That's why there is no relegation and promotion battle since these decision were suddenly made before the season launched. However, my team has struggled to compete in the league, and always wandering around the bottom of table..Under normal regulation we must've fought in the relegation battle desperately, but...  It's very difficult to keep our motivation up without any goals at the moment.

 But personally, I really enjoyed playing for the team as I'm playing at the position where I really wanted to play, and we've got the results so far ever since the coach used me there.  

 Anyway, I've decided to keep playing seriously till the end of the next season, but I'm still not sure which position I will try my luck with. It might be a defender... haha 

 

 

  

 

 

 

　最近、サッカーの話をしてなかったので少し。

　気がつけば今シーズンもあと２試合となりました。今年はリーグ編成上、降格・昇格はないみたいなので、下位にいる自分のチームはなかなか消化試合と化した試合にうまく入っていけてません。けど直近の自分が出た試合は１勝１分。下位同士がぶつかってるのもあるけど、今はトップ下で自由にやらしてもらってるので、かなり楽しいです。試合中は誰よりも走ってると思うし、毎試合点に絡めてる。アシストばかりで点取れてないのが個人的にはストレスですが・・・。

　今は来季に向けての個人的なアピールしか考えてないし、どこのポジションでチャレンジするかも決めかねてるところ。どこのポジションである程度できる自信はあるけど、「ここが一番得意」ってのが言い切れないのがね。

　残り試合も大切にしながら、これからじっくり考えていきます。

　とりあえず今季、まだまだ自分に伸びしろがあると感じたので、来年もオーストラリアで現役を続けるつもりです。

vs Eastern Suburbs

 Hi, boys and girls.

 We took on Eastern Suburbs last weekend who hammered us by 4 goals last time we strived at our home. So we went on with fine-tuning on the formation, and replaced some players from the previous match. That's why I was actually put in the defense line as a right full-back where I had never played since when I was a kid!!

 It didn't really matter to me at the time, I mean, I couldn't afford to think about something else but focusing on the game. As a result, we had a much better result than the last time with a meaningful loss 1-2 in compaison with a hopeless and miserable one 1-5 of the previous result. However, loss is loss, nothing else. Our performance edged up to the better sides, but can't get points from them. 

 On another note, it was a kind of memorable game for me as I could finally stand on the same field with Yoshi-san who is my big brother in Australia. To stretch the point a bit, one of my dreams in my entire life came true on that time. haha  Anyway, he is one of the respectable person from my heart for me. But unfortunately... he got sent off in the early second half with two yellow cards given!! At that moment, I thought we could win this game cuz we were still 1-0 up, but the referee messed up our hope with two silly and inexplicable judgements in the late second half. That was soooo rediculous!! He should be disqualified right now as a ref!!

 Oh.. man.. I can't sleep... 

 

 

  前回は大敗した相手。

　しかも、相手には同じ日本人、しかも自分が尊敬してる先輩（元セレッソ）がでてる。前回は自分がスタメンで、その人は後半からの出場。しかもデキの悪さから自分はハーフタイムで交代させられ直接対決ならず。

　そして今日、見事二人ともスタメンで激突。しかも、直接マッチアップすることもあったし、色々意識しながらプレーしました。ブリスベンに帰ってくるとき、この人と試合で対戦したいというのが大きな今シーズンの目標の一つでもあったので感慨深かったね。残念ながら、むこうはイエロー２枚で退場してしまったけど。

　自分はフル出場。しかもアクシデントが二つ。実はその前の試合にも２軍の試合があって、最初そこの試合に前半だけ出てから、１軍の試合のベンチに入るって話だったんやけど、試合前になって１軍でスタメンだと言われ・・・。けど登録用紙に書いてしまったモンだから２軍の試合に前半だけ出ろと・・。その後、すぐにトップチームの試合でフル出場。１日に１試合半の公式戦なんて、小学生以来。おいおい、中学生ちゃうねんから・・。と思いながら、試合始まるれば関係ない。足に乳酸たまりまくりながらも最後まで走りぬいた。が、ラスト１５分で逆転されて１－２の負け。しんどい・・・。相手が退場した時点で１－０だったんで、勝てる試合を完全に落としました。

　しかもこの試合、まさかの右サイドバックっていうね。これまた公式戦では小学生以来です。笑

　しっかし負けるとなかなか寝れません・・・。次は勝つ！