NAGATA Kodai (4rth year, School of Commerce / Kyoto Sanga F.C.), UCHIDA Yosuke (4 year, School of Political Science and Economics / Tokyo Verdy), KUMATORIYA Issei (4th year, School of Political Science and Economics / Tokyo Verdy), Meijiro, an official mascot character of Meiji University, Vice Captain KANBAYASHI Go (4th year, School of Commerce / Cerezo Osaka), Vice Captain TOKIWA Kyota (4th year, School of Law / FC Tokyo), Captain NAKAMURA Sota (4th year, School of Political Science and Economics / Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Head Coach KURITA Daisuke
On December 4, the Football Club held a press conference at University Hall on Surugadai Campus for six players who have been informally selected to join J-League teams. The Football Club has produced J-Leaguers for 15 consecutive years.
The following six players have been selected to join the J-League: Captain NAKAMURA Sota (fourth-year student in the School of Political Science and Economics / Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Vice Captain TOKIWA Kyota (fourth-year student in the School of Law / FC Tokyo), Vice Captain KANBAYASHI Go (fourth-year student in the School of Commerce / Cerezo Osaka), KUMATORIYA Issei (fourth-year student in the School of Political Science and Economics / Tokyo Verdy), UCHIDA Yosuke (fourth-year student in the School of Political Science and Economics / Tokyo Verdy), NAGATA Kodai (fourth-year student in the School of Commerce / Kyoto Sanga F.C.).
At the press conference, INOUE Masaru, General Manager of the Football Club and Professor in the School of Arts and Letters, gave a speech, followed by Head Coach KURITA Daisuke’s introduction to each player’s style of play and personality. Head Coach KURITA offered words of encouragement to the players, saying: “It’s really great that six players have been informally selected to join the J1-League. I want the players to be humble and bold and pursue the motto of ‘From Meiji University to the World!’ with gratitude that they have been taught by many coaches from elementary school to high school.”
Head Coach KURITA Daisuke introducing the playing styles of each of the six players after a speech
Next, the six players expressed their gratitude to the members and staff of the club and their joy at the offer, and pledged their success after joining J-League clubs.
The players who have been informally selected to join J-League clubs and their comments are as follows:
Captain NAKAMURA Sota / Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Captain NAKAMURA Sota / Sanfrecce Hiroshima
The uniform of the Football Club has changed this year, we won the Aminovital® Cup , and became the undefeated champion in the Kanto University Football League First Division , so it was really good that we were able to make new history in our generation. In the All Japan University Football Championship (Intercollegiate Championship) , I want to express my gratitude to Head Coach KURITA and all the staff members on the pitch, and put all the strength I have developed in my four years at Meiji University to play the best game in my best condition. After becoming a professional player, I want to dedicate all my strength to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, aiming to score a shot in my first game, not just make the squad for the first game of the season.
Captain NAKAMURA Sota informally selected to join Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Vice Captain TOKIWA Kyota / FC Tokyo
In the beginning, I had difficulties with the unfamiliar dormitory life and the laws I learned for the first time, but the memories I had with my fellow classmates, such as working in the dormitory and preparing for tests, and becoming the undefeated champion in the Kanto University Football League, made a strong impression on me during the four years. I have strong feelings for F.C. Tokyo, which I will join next season. I want to make the squad for the first game of the season so that I can contribute to the league championship, which the team has never achieved.
Vice Captain TOKIWA Kyota informally selected to join FC Tokyo
Vice Captain KANBAYASHI Go / Cerezo Osaka
When I was a freshman, I saw not only the players on the pitch, but also the players who were not playing in the game and staff members, regardless of their position, taking initiatives and doing their best every day, and I felt strongly that this is a wonderful tradition that the members of the Meiji University Football Club have created. I am very happy to join Cerezo Osaka from next season, which has been a great help for me during my eight years as a youth player. I want to play in every game and lead my team to the league championship.
When I was a freshman, I saw not only the players on the pitch, but also the players who were not playing in the game and staff members, regardless of their position, taking initiatives and doing their best every day, and I felt strongly that this is a wonderful tradition that the members of the Meiji University Football Club have created. I am very happy to join Cerezo Osaka from next season, which has been a great help for me during my eight years as a youth player. I want to play in every game and lead my team to the league championship.
Vice Captain KANBAYASHI Go informally selected to join Cerezo Osaka
KUMATORIYA Issei / Tokyo Verdy
Working in the dormitory for first and second year students was very difficult, but I was able to grow greatly thanks to the guidance of my seniors, fellow classmates, and staff members. Through the three principles of ball handling, switching, and momentum, which is a tradition of the Meiji University Football Club, I have grown significantly over the past four years, and my range of play has greatly expanded. For Tokyo Verdy, I want to make the most of the strength I have developed at Meiji University and play in the games first to contribute to the team’s victory.
KUMATORIYA Issei informally selected to join Tokyo Verdy
UCHIDA Yosuke / Tokyo Verdy
In the summer camp held in Kawakami Village during the suspension of the Kanto University Football League, I was able to develop myself, not only in terms of play and physicality, but also in feeling a sense of unity with my teammates as we worked together to improve each other. From next season, I want to play in as many games as possible at Tokyo Verdy and, of course, the first game of the season, and I would like to grow as a player as well.
UCHIDA Yosuke informally selected to join Tokyo Verdy
NAGATA Kodai / Kyoto Sanga F.C.
The Meiji University Football Club was able to become the undefeated champion in the Kanto University Football League because all members, including the staff members, were always thinking about what they could do for Meiji University’s victory and were playing their part to the fullest. I want to win the Intercollegiate Championship, and I want to play as hard as I can so that Meiji University, which I love, will always be a strong Meiji University. At Kyoto Sanga F.C., I want to make the most of the interpersonal play skills I have developed at Meiji University and my weapon, the header, and work diligently every day so that I can play as a regular player from the first year.
NAGATA Kodai informally selected to join Kyoto Sanga F.C.
In addition, as a surprise, video messages from each of the clubs they received offers from were shown to the players.
The players received messages from Head Coach Michael Skibbe from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Meiji University graduate and professional player NAGATOMO Yuto from FC Tokyo (graduate of the School of Political Science and Economics in 2009), President MORISHIMA Hiroaki from Cerezo Osaka, Head of Training Department EJIRI Atsuhiko from Tokyo Verdy (graduate of the School of Business Administration in 1990), and Head Coach Cho Kwi Jae and Meiji University graduate and professional player FUKUDA Shinnosuke (graduate of the School of Arts and Letters in 2023) from Kyoto Sanga F.C.
The players received messages from Head Coach Michael Skibbe from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Meiji University graduate and professional player NAGATOMO Yuto from FC Tokyo (graduate of the School of Political Science and Economics in 2009), President MORISHIMA Hiroaki from Cerezo Osaka, Head of Training Department EJIRI Atsuhiko from Tokyo Verdy (graduate of the School of Business Administration in 1990), and Head Coach Cho Kwi Jae and Meiji University graduate and professional player FUKUDA Shinnosuke (graduate of the School of Arts and Letters in 2023) from Kyoto Sanga F.C.
TOKIWA Kyota (center) smiling at a video message from NAGATOMO Yuto