INTERVIEW
Kashima Youth 2024 REVIEW
Captain Kaito Sato
In their first year back in the Prince Takamago Cup Premier League, Kashima Youth fought many hard-fought battles. Although they narrowly missed out on the top spot, they remained in the title race until the final match.
Captain Kaito Sato reflects on the battles in the Prince Takamago Cup Premier League and the team's journey through the 2024 season.
The third-years were helped by their younger teammates
Two more goals, and we would have made it.
In their first year back in the "Prince Takamago Cup JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2024 EAST," the highest stage for high school-age players, they fought their way into the top of the standings until the final stretch, securing a 2-1 victory over Naoshi High School in the final match. However—.
"It didn't feel like we had won. I mean, we won, but the feeling of frustration was overwhelming. After the match, I wasn't sure how I felt."
Although they tied with the top-ranked Yokohama FC on points, they finished in second place, falling short by "two" goals in goal difference. Their long-awaited victory in the Premier League EAST and advancement to the "Prince Takamago Cup JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2024 Final" remained out of reach. Kaito Sato transforms his disappointment into hope for his younger teammates.
"I hope they fight in the Premier League EAST next year as "title contenders" and achieve results beyond those of the generation before them. I want them to win the league, win the Premier League Final, and become champions of Japan—I want them to work hard for their own share of that success. There are so many truly talented players in both the youth and junior youth teams, and more and more younger players are getting opportunities to play in matches for the older generations. I want them to always aim higher, rather than being satisfied with performing at their own age level."
The team is transitioning from the generation that won the Prince League Kanto in 2023 and fought through the Premier League playoffs to bring the youth team to the highest stage, to a new team. Kaito Sato was appointed "captain" about "one week before" the start of the Premier League EAST season.
"Coach Yanagisawa called me personally and told me. I had already prepared myself for it at the time, so I didn't feel any pressure, and since it had been entrusted to me, I decided to fulfill my role properly. I had been captain in junior and junior youth, so I thought I would be able to handle it in the youth team as well. However, once the league season started, I began to feel a different state of mind and a change in my feelings. I realized that being the youth team captain meant having even greater responsibility."
The Premier League EAST season opener, which he faced as captain. "Many players had played in the Premier League EAST since last year, and before the season started, I thought they were title contenders," he says of Kashiwa Reysol U-18, against whom they suffered a 1-3 defeat, painfully highlighting the team's lack of ability. Coach Tomoya Ichikawa's words come to mind.
"No player had ever experienced the Premier League EAST before, and we didn't know how well we could perform when Coach Ichikawa, who had experienced the stage before, told us, "At this rate, we'll be fighting to avoid relegation," which left a lasting impression on me. Of course, we had set "victory" as our goal, but it made me realize that league matches wouldn't be that easy. It actually took us a long time to get our first win, and I realized how difficult the league matches would be."
Although he says, "There were times when I felt anxious" after failing to get a win in the first three matches, they secured their first victory in Matchday 4 against Yokohama FC Youth. The match was held at the prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium, the "holy ground" of the Antlers. This one win became the catalyst for their winning streak.
"In the first half of the season, we were able to secure our first Premier League victory at Kashima Stadium against Yokohama FC. We were able to win in a good way, so all the players gained confidence, and what we gained from that win was huge. After that, we continued to play with that match as our standard, and we were able to keep winning, and the results followed. I think it led to even greater confidence for the team."
From May through June, they defeated Aomori Yamada High School (Matchday 6, 3-0), Shohei High School (Matchday 7, 1-0), Omiya Ardija U18 (Matchday 8, 4-0), and FC Tokyo U-18 (Matchday 9, 2-1) one after another with overwhelming momentum, achieving a four-game winning streak. In the match against Kawasaki Frontale U-18 held before the league break in July, they dramatically won a see-saw game (Matchday 11, 4-3). One of the factors supporting their good form, according to the captain, is the performance of the first- and second-year players.
"The younger players didn't seem that nervous and played with confidence. Especially the first-year players, who had been playing at the junior high level until last year and had little experience in high school soccer, and even the second-year players were inexperienced and not used to it. They didn't even need the strength of us third-years, who had been playing at the high school level for the past two years. Originally, I thought we would be able to lead the younger players, but rather, I think the third-years were helped by them."
Using the experience and mental strength cultivated as captain
The younger players, including second-year Yugo Okawa and Nagisa Nagisa, and first-year Minato Yoshida, Yuwa Fukuoka, Daigo Hirashima, and Rui Onuki, became mainstays of the A team and were called up to the Japan age-group national team. In the midst of this, they were eliminated in the group stage at the "48th Japan Club Youth Soccer Championship (U-18) Tournament" in late July, but they grew significantly as a team during the subsequent training camp in Ishikawa Prefecture.
"After returning from the summer break, we returned to the team and participated in the Wakura Youth Soccer Tournament in Ishikawa Prefecture. However, we were eliminated early in that tournament, and from there, the intensive training camp began. Even between practice matches, we would run, and looking back now, they are only good memories, but at the time, it was really tough... To the point where I think, "Compared to that time, there probably isn't anything else that tough." I think everyone probably feels the same way (laughs). After that, even if we couldn't make a good play in the first half of a match, we could pull ourselves together in the halftime huddle and say, "We've been through tough things!" and start over. I think that overcoming the tough training increased the team's unity, and that is what allowed us to grow as a team throughout the year."
Through the intensive training camp, the players became stronger. Mentally, and physically. It wasn't just a feeling; it was actually manifested in the numbers as well.
"Over this past year, Coach Yanagisawa emphasized "standing together as a team," and during the tough training, we started calling out to each other and gradually became able to work together with a slightly better atmosphere as a team. In addition, looking at our own performance data, we were getting good numbers, and we won almost every match where we were able to play with high intensity. It's not that we are overly conscious of those numbers, but fewer players cramped up in the second half, and we became able to apply our intensity even against the powerhouse teams of the Japan Sports Association. This is because it is based on the confidence we gained by accumulating a lot of tough training throughout the year. For example, in the second half of the season against Maebashi Ikuei (Matchday 20, 2-1), we got good numbers, and even after being tied, we were able to switch gears, score one goal, and win, and we played good soccer."
The daily accumulation led to the result of second place in the Premier League EAST. We fell short of the "title" required of an Antlers player, but the frustration and lessons learned on that stage will become nourishment for the future.
"Ultimately, I think that having more goals conceded compared to other teams was a major factor in not winning the championship. Failing to hold on when we needed to and conceding consecutive goals, or having the goals we scored immediately taken back. Looking back over the year, I think we also had a lot of goals conceded during game-changing times such as the start and the final stretch. In the first half of the season, we were tied in additional time in the second half against Municipal Funabashi High School (Matchday 2, 1-1), or conceded four goals against Maebashi Ikuei High School (Matchday 10, 0-4). Even in the matches we won, we conceded three goals against Kawasaki Frontale U-18 (Matchday 11, 4-3), so we had a lot of goals conceded. If we had been able to reduce it by one or two goals somewhere, or on the other hand, score when we had the chance, the final result would have been different. In 2025, so that I can also play in J-League matches, I want to work from training with a focus on "one goal." If I get even one scoring chance in a match, I want to be able to finish it. And no matter how dangerous the crisis is, I want to be able to defend and save the team."
Kaito Sato himself will officially become a member of the top team from the 2025 season, along with Takumi Tokuda and Haruto Matsumoto. He will use the experience cultivated in the school, junior, junior youth, and youth teams in the professional world next.
"I was born in Kashima City, and this club has been my goal since I started playing soccer. I entered the Antlers academy from the school, went to Kashima Stadium to watch the top team's matches, and saw moments of victory such as the 2018 ACL (AFC Champions League) Final. Precisely because I was able to serve as the youth team captain, I was able to think about and acquire various solutions and improvements for different situations throughout the year. I think I have become a professional because I was allowed to have various experiences with many people involved with this club. That's why I want to continue to perform at this club, win titles, and give back in various ways. Even after I become a professional, I will be supporting the academy players, and I want to work hard so that I can show them how I perform as soon as possible. I think many more walls await me as I become a professional, but I want to overcome them one by one using the many experiences I cultivated as the youth team captain and the mental strength I acquired."
With gratitude to various people in his heart, he will walk his career as a professional footballer. To engrave even more stars on the emblem of the Antlers, which has won 20 titles so far—. That is Kaito Sato's form of giving back, and making everyone involved with the Antlers smile is his one and only goal.
"Especially during the second half of the Premier League EAST and home matches, many supporters who usually support the top team came out, and it became motivation for us players. They cheered for us when we were having a tough time, and applauded when we made a good play, and because so many people supported us, I myself had fun playing and was happy. Thank you very much for your warm support. From now on, I would be happy if you could continue to support the academy players who are working hard with the Antlers emblem engraved on their hearts, not only the top team and youth, but also the junior youth, junior, and school teams. Thank you very much for your continued support."
The story of the Antlers club and Captain Kaito Sato, who inherits its spirit, will continue into the future.
With the experience and gratitude cultivated at the academy in his heart, he will play for the top team in the 2025 season