Unnoticed events have gradually helped the boys grow.
A player whose life was changed by a single save.
A player who kept losing to rivals.
A player whose spirit nearly broke due to injury.
A player who turned gratitude toward their parents into strength.
13 first-year students at the Kashima Antlers Youth Academy.
Aiming for the top team and the world, what experiences have they accumulated, and what have they valued?
The answer lies in each person's "origins". (Part 3 of 3)

 

Takuto Ueno

"If I'm going there, this level isn't good enough."
A left foot forged by strictness
[DF Takuto Ueno's Origins]

　A strong spirit was nurtured through strictness.

　In his third year of junior high school, when he was accepted into the Kashima Antlers Youth Academy, he still cannot forget the words spoken to him by a coach at Solesso Kumamoto.

"I was told more harshly than ever before, 'If you're going to Kashima, this level isn't good enough.' Even a single passing mistake would lead to, 'What are you doing?' But thanks to that, I think my spirit became stronger."

　He started playing soccer at age five. His father, Daisuke Ueno, also played for New Wave Kitakyushu (now Giravanz Kitakyushu). Furthermore, his father's high school and university classmate was former Kashima Antlers goalkeeper and current youth goalkeeper coach Satoshi Sugiyama.

　Since he was young, the Antlers had always been close to him.

"I've loved the Antlers since I was little. When I received the offer from Mr. Motoyama to join the training, I was truly happy."

　The reason he moved from Roasso Kumamoto Junior to Solesso Kumamoto was also a desire to "grow more."

"I was taught strictly not only in soccer but also in my personal life. It included manners and discipline, and I think I was able to grow as a person."

　His weapons are his left-foot kicking and his heading, which makes use of his jumping ability.
"My left-foot kicking has always been my weapon. I've also been good at heading since I was little."

　When he joined the Antlers Youth Academy training, he was surprised by its high intensity.
"At first, I couldn't keep up at all. But on the second and third days, I gradually became able to show my own play, and my desire to 'want to play for this team' became stronger."

　Even now that he has joined the youth academy, that feeling remains unchanged.
"There are still many things I lack. I think I need to level up my running ability and my right foot even more."

　His goal is to play for the Kashima Antlers top team.
"First, I want to show my play properly. On top of that, I will work hard to contribute to the team's victory and become a professional."
　Strictness is not a shortcut to growth. Even so, there are days when he did not run away from that strictness. Takuto Ueno continues to polish himself today.

 

Aoi Iida

"You never know who is watching any match."
The current position he earned through accumulated effort
[FW Aoi Iida's Origins]

　

　Growth was not something someone would give him.

　In junior high school, there were words spoken to him by a mentor.

"'You are the one who does it.' I was told that often, but in the end, I am the one who does it. No matter how much people around me say it, I cannot grow unless I do it myself. Those words are still deeply ingrained in my heart."

　For Aoi Iida, these words became the origin of his soccer life.

　He started playing soccer at age five. His father was also an experienced soccer player, and they kicked the ball together since he was little. On holidays, he watched the Premier League with his father and older brother, and they talked about the play of overseas players.
"I often watched Arsenal matches. I remember talking with my father, 'It would be nice if I could play at this level.'"

　In junior high school, he went to FC Divine in Aichi Prefecture. It was by no means a nationally strong team. Even so, his encounter with a coach changed him.

"I was taught post play and how to move as a forward. But more than that, the words 'You are the one who does it' were the most important."

　Even on days when practice was off, he never missed independent training.
"After coming home from school, I would kick the ball for about 1-2 hours. I often continued until I was satisfied."

　He was also selected as a candidate for the age-group Japan national team, and his soccer life seemed to be going smoothly. Even so, there are unforgettable times.

"After being selected as a national team candidate, I was not called for national team activities for about a year. I was truly frustrated. I felt that my ability was not enough."

　That is exactly why he changed. He approached every match with all his might.

"You never know when, where, or who is watching. Thinking that, I only thought about giving my all in my play."

　Effort gradually leads to results. He was selected for the national team again and also experienced overseas expeditions.

　Even so, he is not satisfied.
　After joining the youth academy and playing with top-level players nationwide, he saw what he lacked.

"I thought my ball skills were still lacking. Therefore, I want to further refine the basics of stopping and kicking, and on top of that, become a forward who can score goals."

　His goal is the Kashima Antlers top team. And beyond that, the world.
"First, my goal is to be promoted to the top team. For that, I want to continue growing even more."

　The words spoken by his mentor, "You are the one who does it." Aoi Iida continues to accumulate effort today, with those words in his heart.

 

Haruto Kanari

"I want to become someone who makes the team win."
The desire to "make the team win" that sprouted in Fukushima
[FW Haruto Kanari's Origins]

　He could not win. In elementary school, he experienced that frustration many times.

"The teams around me were stronger. Therefore, I always thought I wanted to become someone who could make the team win."

　Born and raised in Fukushima Prefecture, he started playing soccer in kindergarten. He chased after his older brother's back and chased the ball at his local Maku S.C.S.

　Since he was little, he had confidence in his physical abilities. He played in matches with older students and used his speed as a weapon to dribble past opponents.

"I always loved exercising. By being able to play with older students, I was able to gain various experiences."

　He wanted to grow more. From that desire, he went to Kashima Antlers Norte in junior high school. It was a 40-minute one-way train ride, new teammates, and a new environment.

"Since everyone was a stranger, I was anxious at first. But after making friends, it was a lot of fun."

　What he learned at Norte was not only soccer.

"I was told to value my character in aspects other than soccer. I was taught not only soccer but also to grow as a person."
　That experience is still his foundation today.

　The Emperor's Cup in his final year of junior high school. He could not finish with the results he wanted.

"I was frustrated. But I thought I had no choice but to reset."

　That frustration strengthened his desire for a title.

"In high school, I absolutely want to win a title."
　His goal is the top team. Before that, he wants to win a title at the Kashima Antlers Youth Academy.

"I want to play in matches myself and make the team win. My skills are still lacking. I want to practice more and first become able to play in matches."

　He knows the days when he could not win. That is exactly why he wants to grasp the joy of winning more than anyone else.

　Haruto Kanari continues to run today to become someone who makes the team win.

 

Ayumu Ishida

"If I stay like this, I won't make it."
The heart he changed while facing injuries
[MF Ayumu Ishida's Origins]

　What needed to change was not only his play.

　In junior high school, Ayumu Ishida suffered from repeated injuries. He could not play as he wanted due to muscle strains and ankle sprains, and his anxiety grew.

"My mentality was weak. When I got injured, I immediately became anxious. There was even a time when I thought about quitting soccer."

　He started playing soccer in his second year of kindergarten. His parents were big fans of the Kashima Antlers, and he visited Kashima Stadium since he was little. The Antlers were always part of his daily life.

　He played at Rokuno SSS in Hitachinaka City and the Kashima Antlers School, and joined Kashima Antlers Norte Junior in his fifth year of elementary school. When he learned he had passed, his parents also rejoiced from the bottom of their hearts.

"Since I was little, I was physically large, so I could play normally with my physicality. But when I joined Norte Junior, everyone was good and had high awareness."

　After being promoted to Norte Junior Youth, he alternated between periods when he could and could not play in matches. Injuries also piled up, and his feelings continued to waver.

　The turning point was when he was told he was promoted to the youth academy in his third year of junior high school.
"I was truly happy. But my father told me, 'You have to change your mentality little by little.' I also thought that I would not make it in the youth academy if I stayed like this."

　From there, he changed his way of thinking.
　Even if he got injured, he did not think about what he could not do. He looked at what he could do at that time, such as strength training and care. Even on off days, he kicked the ball with his school friends.

"Now, even if I get injured, I try to think positively that there are other things I can do. I have stopped having negative thoughts that make me anxious."

　His father prepared massage machines and supplements, continuing to support his son's challenge. That support also became the power for Ishida to change.

　His weapon is a pass that catches the opponent off guard. What he learned from Coach Daisuke Tsukada in junior high school was to look at the direction of the opponent's knees and pass the ball in a direction that is difficult to move.

"I look at my teammate's movement and the opponent's knees, and I pass the ball as if to deceive the opponent. It is truly fun when it goes through well."

　His goal is to play as a starter every year and produce results with goals and assists. And beyond that, to be promoted to the Kashima Antlers top team.

"First, I want to work hard from practice and play in matches. Once I play in matches, I will work hard to produce results properly."

　Injuries, failures, things that have already happened cannot be changed. What can be changed is how you accept those events.

　He acknowledged his weak self and decided to change into a positive self. Ayumu Ishida is now continuing to polish his heart to pass one decisive pass.