‘Until I was sixteen I only had played football’
１６になるまでサッカーばかりやってた

,,I was sharp as a knife. In Japan it is common to show people this way that something is going to happen’’ This warning with his boldshaved head, became reality after a few days against RBC Roosendaal, with a briljant goal. The Japanse forward has become the crowds beloved son. The Polman Stadium turns to be Sota's playground. An interview with the 20 year young forward.
なぜか私の勘はナイフのように鋭かった。日本では何か起こりつつあるときにこんな言い回しをする。数日後その予言は現実になった。
ローゼンダール戦での坊主頭が素晴らしいゴールを生んだ。この日本の青年は多くの人に愛されるようになった。
ポルマンスタジアムは平山選手の独壇場になっている。２０歳の若きフォワードにインタビューしてみた。

How are you doing in Almelo ?
アルメロでの生活はどう？

,,Up to now I settled well in Almelo. Alltough Almelo is very quiet. I have lived in Fukuoaka and Ibaraki, cities with millions of people living in these citis. Day and night traffic and people on the streets. At night there is always something to do..... I get bored once in a while, sometimes it already starts in the afternoon.. I keep myself busy than with the Internet or watching DVD's. But I really like Almelo...’’
「今まで快適に暮らしてる。 ここはほんと静かだよね。百万人単位の人がいる福岡や茨城にいた頃は昼も夜も人や車が通ってたけど。
夜になるとインターネットやＤＶＤを見たりして結構忙しいんだ。 時々昼から退屈になるときもあるけどアルメロはほんといい街だよ。」

Have you ever heared about Heracles Almelo before you came to Holland?
オランダに来る前にヘラクレスというクラブは知ってたの？

,,To be honest, no, I had never heared about Heracles. Once I was informed that they were interested, I have surfed the Internet. I found it an interesseting club. I wanted to go to the Netherlands already. In Europe a player can become completer. The Dutch way of playing attacking football, was an extra plus to come to heracles. To fit into the system took some time. In tactics, Dutch players are much more advanced. Personally I had to get used to the rythme. Until now I am not dissatified with my performance, but there is still much work to do.....’’
「いや、正直まったく知らなかった。 ヘラクレスがボクに関心があると知った時ネットで探したよ。それで面白そうなクラブだなと思った。
とにかくオランダに来たかったからね。 ヨーロッパならレベルアップできるしね。ヘラクレスもそうだけどオランダの攻撃的なサッカーは
とってもプラスになる。慣れるにはちょっと時間がかかるけど。オランダの選手は戦術も進んでると思うよ。自分ではもうオランダのリズムに
慣れたと思う。今まで自分のプレーに不満はないけどやるべきことはまだたくさんあるよ・・・」

First your try-out at Feyenoord.
はじめにフェイエノールトのテストを受けたが？

,,I have been there for one week. Feyenoord was already interested and after the Worldcup under 20, in which I scored against Holland, Feyenoord invited me to come over. Try to impress them and enforce a contract. But I was not good enough. The level was too high. My physical condition was not good enough and the entourage was totally different. Finally I was very happy when Heracles showed their interest.’’
「１週間いたねフェイエには。ボクがワールドユースでオランダ代表相手に得点したので興味を持ってくれて呼んでくれたんだ。
（テストで）いい印象を持ってくれて契約しようと思ったんだけど合格点じゃなかったみたい。レベルが高すぎたのかなあ。まあ
あの時は来たばっかりで環境も違うしコンディションもいいとは言えなかったからね。でも結果的にヘラクレスが興味を示してくれて
ほんと良かったと思ってるよ。」

You have never played in the Japanse professional league.
Ｊリーグでプレーしたことないよね？

,,I had the chance too play the professional league, but I did not on purpose. When I became sixteen Ibaraki invited me to study on their university. Their university is well known in our country. I could also play in their schoolteam. Until that time playing football was all I had done. For my social skills I wanted to get in touch with contemporaries. I wanted to share my experiences with others.If I had moved to a professional team I had misted all that....’’
「Ｊリーグでプレーするチャンスはあったんだけどいかなかった。１６歳の時、有名な筑波大から誘いを受けたんだ。大学でもプレーは
続けられるからね。それまでサッカー漬けだったから、将来のために同じ年代の人と知り合っていろいろしてみたかったんだよ。
もしプロに入ったらできなくなるからね。」

How did you become infected with the footballvirus ?
どうしてサッカーにハマったの？

,,I was eight years when the first professional league, the J-League,started in my country. On tv the first match was transmitted. When I saw that game I knew that I wanted the become a professional football player. I had played baseball and have been swimming up to that moment. I did well, but there was football and nothing else... Day in, day out...On my 11th I became a centre-forward and started to score frequently. I was already about 10 centimeters longer than my fellow players. We practised during training and in the air I won almost every duel. The teammanager was the one who positioned me as a centre forward and I have played there since....’’
「８歳の時にＪリーグが始まったんだ。ＴＶで開幕戦を見てプロサッカー選手になりたいなと思った。それまで野球やスイミングをやってた
んだけどね。で毎日毎日サッカーだけの日が続いた・・・１１歳になってセンターフォワードを任されてよく点を取るようになった。
仲間より１０ｃｍは背が高かったから。空中戦じゃほとんど負けなくなった。それ以来監督はボクをセンターフォワードにしたし
いままでずっとそうだよ。」

Your height 191 centimetre, is tall for the average Japanse. Is it somethinh that is in the family familie?
キミは１９１ｃｍあるんだけど日本人にしちゃ高いよね。家族もみんなそうなの？

,,My father is just a little bit taller than the average Japanese. But my mother is very tall. My parents weren't not that interested in football. It changed when they saw that I became very fanatic. ’’
「まあ父ちゃんはちょっと高いぐらいかな。でも母ちゃんはとっても高いよ。どちらもボクが夢中になるまでサッカーには関心なかったけどね。」

Where would you like to be playing in a few years?
将来どこでプレーしたいの？

,,In Spain. During Christmas I visited Yoshito Okubu, a Japanese player, who has a contract with Real Mallorca. I loved the athmosphere... I realyy would love to play in Spain. But first I would like to learn and show my skills with heracles Almelo. I want to leave Heracles twice as good, and therefor I have to work hard, every day....’’
「スペインかな。クリスマス休暇にマジョルカの大久保選手を訪ねたよ。良かったねぇスペインは。あそこでプレーしたいと思う。
でもその前にここヘラクレスでもっとがんばらないと。２倍ぐらいレベルアップしてからの話だね。
だからこれからも毎日練習だよ。」
（了）
Thanks to Sander Berends

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