25YEARS MEMORIAL UNIFORM
Press Conference Report
- ■Date:2020.8.5 wed 13:45～14:05
- ■Location:Noevir Stadium Kobe
- ■Speakers:Gotoku Sakai, Keijiro Ogawa
- Sakai
- About 25YEARS MEMORIAL UNIFORM「It’s a completely different colour, a fresh look. Personally, I really like the color.」
- Ogawa
- About 25YEARS MEMORIAL UNIFORM「I'm happy to wear the uniform colors I admired as a boy, and I'm happy to think I can fight in these.」
Q&A Session
- This is the 25th year of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and I think the club has a strong desire to stand at the forefront of the people of Kobe and to walk with them. Once again, what do you think about the history of the club by wearing this uniform?
- Sakai
- 「I've just only been with the club for about a year, but no matter which team I've been with, I personally value the traditions and culture of the club, and I felt throughout last season that the people of Kobe and its supporters are very passionate about Vissel Kobe. I think it's very important to be able to show the old Vissel Kobe by revived original color uniform. As for myself, I strongly want to contribute to the team so that I can make my mark on history.」
- Ogawa
- 「The Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake is something we must never forget, and remembering that this is the kind of team the Kobe team was made up of, I think wearing this uniform will give us strength. I think it's important to know that I'm fighting with the feelings of Kobe on my back, so I'd like to reconsider the feelings and fight with pride to represent Kobe in this uniform.」
- You were infected with the COVID-19 and thanked your supporters for their encouragement, what do you want to show to your supporters?
- Sakai
- 「I'm happy that the J-League restarted and that football is back for the weekend. Personally, I have received encouraging emails and communications from not only Kobe supporters, but also from various people in the football industry and friends, and I have been reminded once again that I am supported by many people. I've been on the pitch so far to give back to all the people who have empowered and encouraged me and all the people who are involved and watching me, and I want to continue to do that. I think the best way to give back is to express myself on the pitch, so I want to continue to repay those who have supported me by performing well as an individual, not to mention producing results as a team.」
- You've been with the team for a long time, and you've seen Kobe's progress all along, but how have you seen the 25 years of club so far?
- Ogawa
- 「We have had difficult times every year, and in the history of the club, we have been relegated and have had difficult times, but we have overcome the pain as one in the city of Kobe. Even after we were relegated, we were able to get promoted together and win the Emperor's Cup, and because of the hardships we have experienced, I think we can unite as a team. We have only won one title, and we need to win more titles in the future, so we will unite as a team to push forward.」
- What is your image of Vissel Kobe's black and white uniform?
- Sakai
- 「I don't remember the period when Vissel Kobe wore black and white uniforms very much, but it was a time when Kazu, players who represented Japan and world-famous players wore them, so I'm proud and honored to wear the uniform of that era. The uniform has a sense of history, and we have to play with it, so I feel tense by it.」
- Ogawa
- 「When I was in elementary school, I used to go to the stadium to watch Vissel Kobe games, and they were black and white. I had think it was a cool, and I longed to wear it when I became a professional. When I became a junior high school student, I joined the Vissel Kobe Junior Youth team and the first uniform I received was the black and white number 10. I was very happy and I remember even now. It is the uniform that I always admired in my mind. I never thought I would be able to wear a black and white uniform for Vissel Kobe again, so I am very happy to be able to do so now. I think people who have been supporting Vissel Kobe for a long time will be very happy, too. Winning in this uniform will make me even happier, so I will work hard in this uniform for winning the game.」
- How do you feel like to fight with the black and white uniforms that helped you overcome the hardships of the Great Hanshin Earthquake during this difficult time of the COVID-19?
- Sakai
- 「It's glad to be able to play in a special uniform at a special time. With so many people suffering from the COVID-19, the only thing we can do to help them is to play. Of course, during this period of restraint, the players have been communicating on SNS and trying to get the word out, but I think it's important to attract people to the game when we can play football. We are still in a difficult time, but I feel that this is something that not only Kobe, but all of Japan and the world wide must work together to achieve. In such a situation, as a fighter in football, I want to fight to attract people to play well.」
- Ogawa
- 「Sakai told us all about it. (lol) We are footballers, so we think the best thing to do is to attract people with our football, so we don't forget that, we just have to train every day and prepare for the games and attract people on the pitch.」
- It's a nostalgic, tasteful uniform that fans are looking forward to, but how do you want them to enjoy it?
- Sakai
- 「As I said at the beginning, I have only been with the team for less than a year, but I have heard and I know that the club have gone through a lot of things before 25th anniversary. I want you to feel those feelings, including the bad things and the good things we won, by watching us play on the pitch. We have a history and we want to fight with pride, but I think it is important for people to come to the stadium and feel nostalgic about the uniforms. By winning, we can share our joy in this uniform, and that is an important factor, so I want to be particular about that.」
- Ogawa
- 「Sakai said what I want to say. (lol) I joined Vissel Kobe as a fan in the beginning. I am absolutely delighted by the feelings of the fans and supporters, and I share that feeling, but I also believe that they are cheering us on because they are looking for results. Just don't forget that, and this is a chance to look back on the history of Kobe, so I hope that when you see the uniform, you will look back on the history of Kobe and support Vissel Kobe even more.」
