Playing for an Argentine 4th Division Soccer Team

Argentina, Patagonia.
It has been about two months since I came to Comodoro Rivadavia.
I want to look back on these past two months, organize my thoughts, and move forward.

Soccer

As the first Japanese player (first Asian player?) in the Patagonia region,I joined the team
（Huracan Comodoro Rivadavia） and attracted a lot of attention.I was even interviewed by major national newspapers.
This is because the team I joined played in the Argentine first division in the 1980s, and although it has since been relegated to the fourth division,

it is a historic club with the greatest history and most passionate fans in Patagonia.is.

However, despite joining with all that attention,
I haven't been able to perform at a level that justifies that attention so far.

I have played in 6 official matches.
I earned the coach's trust and started in 5 of them.
However, I have 0 goals and 1 assist.

For someone playing as a side winger, these are very disappointing numbers.

In my first match for Huracan, I won a penalty and made several dribbling breakthroughs, contributing to our victory.
Although my debut was a good start, my performance has declined in subsequent matches.

As my performance has dipped, the team's form has also slowed down, and we are currently at 3 wins and 3 losses.

However, there is no point in being impatient about goals and assists.
Numbers will follow as a result of playing well.

The plays I'm good at, the plays I like, and the plays the team expects of me.
I wrote each of these down, created a Venn diagram like an 'Ikigai' chart, and thought about the overlapping parts.

There are roughly only five things I keep in mind during a match.
I believe that to succeed as a winger in Argentina, it all comes down to these five elements.

• Shoot aggressively.

  • A forward who doesn't aim for the goal has no value. Above all, shooting is my greatest strength.

  • If there is even half a step of space, take the shot.

  • Outplay the goalkeeper or aim for the side netting.

  • Because I have a shot, my kick feints and dribbling become effective.

  • If I finish the play with a shot, I won't be countered.

• Cross the ball whenever there is a chance.

  • You don't need to beat the defender completely.

  • Send a fast cross between the goalkeeper and the defender.

  • Dribble deep, keep going, and finally send a cutback cross.

  • Because you have a cross, your dribbling and kick feints become effective.

  • Follow through with the play.

• One-on-one, vertical breakthrough.

  • Blow past the opponent with your initial burst of speed.

  • Cut inside because you have the vertical option.

  • Ball carrying technique and change of pace.

• Don't slack on defensive positioning.

  • The coach places great importance on this.

  • Tuck in, drop back.

  • If you take up the right position from the start, you'll end up running less distance.

• Win the 50/50 challenges.

  • You get hacked a lot. Hack them back, double the intensity.

  • If you chicken out here, your reputation drops in an instant. Plus, it's pathetic.

  • Control the 50/50s and you control the game. It's the most important thing in Argentina.

  • If you can't win with power, win with your first step.

  • I've been working out this past year so I can win with power, too.

That's about all I keep in mind during a match.
To summarize,"Always play towards the goal and fight for the team."That's it.

There's a match this Sunday, too.
Our number 9 striker, who has scored most of the team's goals so far, is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
I'm going to lead the team and secure the win.

The matches I play in are live-streamed on YouTube
with Spanish commentary.
If you want to get a feel for the Argentine 4th Division, please check it out!!

Kickoff is at midnight on Sunday, May 4th (Japan Standard Time).
The link is here ↓
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl3-h5qbK-M

Life outside of soccer

I'm having a blast!!
My teammates, their families, and their friends have been so good to me.
Relationships are the most important foundation of personal life.
Fortunately, I'm surrounded by kind people, and I have nothing but gratitude.
Master your relationships, master your personal life, and you'll master soccer too.
If your personal life isn't stable, there's no way you can play well.

Taking advantage of my brazen nature, I've been barging into my friends' homes constantly.
I've been eating tons of Asado, the classic Argentine BBQ, and enjoying Patagonia's meat to the fullest.
There are times when I miss Japan, but
I have to enjoy this moment in this place.
It's not often you get the experience of being a soccer player in the Argentine countryside.

Also, due to various circumstances, I've enrolled in Patagonia University.
After only one year of studying Spanish, I never thought I'd end up enrolling in a local university (lol).
Between having to skip classes that overlap with practice and the classes being taught in Spanish, it's a double whammy, and keeping up is really tough.
I had a sociology test on Tuesday, but I hadn't been able to attend a single class
before that due to practice, so studying for the test was really hard.

But, I think I probably passed.
Since I'm a former University of Tokyo student, I praised myself for still being good at test prep (lol).
(Though with the clumsiness of this writing, people might wonder if I'm really a UTokyo student lol)

Like this, I'm enjoying my life in Argentina.
Life is all about enjoying it.
Believing that results will follow,
I'll play while savoring the happiness of being able to play soccer here.
I want to burn with passion and express myself on the pitch.

And finally, one more thing.

My challenge from the Argentine 4th Division has begun.
It's a challenge to produce results this year and climb up to the Argentine 1st Division within three years.

I am looking for companies and individuals who will walk this path and climb up with me.
There are only 8 months left in 2025, but
I am looking for sponsors to run through this year with me.
I will use the funds for purchasing soccer gear (cleats, etc.) and local living expenses.

I plan to write about the details in another note.
If you've read this far and are interested, pleaseX orInstagram and send me a message.
Thank you for reading this far!!

Once again, an announcement.
The matches I play in are being live-streamed on YouTube with Spanish commentary.
If you want to get a feel for the Argentine 4th Division, please check it out!!

Kickoff is at 24:00 on Sunday, May 4th (Japan Standard Time).
The link is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl3-h5qbK-M