Energetic, Bright and Fun!
Serika Takawa Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies
I Want to Contribute to the Team
No Matter the Role
The third season of the WE League, Japan’s first professional women’s football league, began this November.
What kind of performance should we expect from the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies, who have achieved their debut in the WE League?
For the sixth installment in our series of interviews with players shouldering grand expectations, we are joined by grit-filled player who can contribute to offense and defense, Serika Takawa.
- You normally play as midfielder or winger, but please tell us about your playstyle and defining characteristics.
- My playstyle is to fight for ball control, steal the ball during defense, and participate to aggressive offense and defense.
- In terms of position, would you say that your versatility is one of your strengths?
- I believe my ability to hold multiple positions is one of my weapons, so I believe I could fully conduct my role in any position I am given. In the WE League Cup I was a left winger, which is a different role from (defensive) midfielder, but I think I would be happy in any position which gives me a chance to contribute to the team through goals, assists, defense, etc.
- Is competing with ball control something you try to keep in mind?
- I’m not the high technical skill type, so I try to play while competing for ball control, making eager challenges, showing my feelings and building up my confidence.
- You previously mentioned aggressive offense and defense, but what kind of role do you see yourself within the team?
- Within the team, I see myself as involved in scoring goals. Other than that, using my fighting spirit create positive impacts for the team.
- From listening to your responses, it sounds like you have a strong mentality. What kind of mentality do you think you have?
- Well, I don’t think my mentality is weak. (Laughs) I don’t overthink something small, and I feel at-ease, or at least I have fun, when playing football. Even if I make a mistake, I can recover quickly and focus on the next play.
- From the attention your showy goal preparations are receiving, it seems like you’re a lively character, but do you see yourself as the type to enliven the atmosphere? Or is it just natural to you?
- In terms of my character, rather than the type to enliven the atmosphere, I just focus on being lively and energetic to cheer up those around me and enjoy myself.
- So, you enjoy yourself first, and that leads to cheering up those around you. In terms of ages, you’re right in the middle between older and younger players, do you try to be a bridge between the two groups?
- Because I am in the middle in terms of ages, I do think it’s important to communicate between both groups. I think it’s important for those in my age group to let the younger players participate freely, and I think it’s important to communicate with the older players to keep a well-balanced relationship between them.
- On the opposite side, do you have any memories of when your older teammates created a positive atmosphere for you when you were even younger?
- I think the lack of an age-based hierarchy is one of the positives of Cerezo. In my personal experience, the older players gave me good advice and were very kind, so I want to pay it forward to the younger players.
Aiming to take part in the championship race
- In the WE League Cup, which opened in August, the team finished second in the group with three wins, one draw and one loss. As a team and as a player, what lessons and tasks did you take away from this tournament?
- The benefit for the team, was that we are able to participate in the WE League, which is a step up for us. Cerezo’s weapon is defense from the front line, and we were able to put it to efficient use. On the other hand, I thought we lacked in our conversion of unbalancing offensives into goals, and clever football based on observing our opponents. I felt those are our tasks, so I hope to improve upon them. Personally, I felt like pressure sped up with our stronger opponents, so my reaction speed and play speed has to increase as well. I hope to increase involvement in goals and assists in upcoming league matches.
- In the first-round match against Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara, you scored the first goal upon ascension to the WE League. Was it something you were aiming for since before the match?
- I was aiming to get the first goal, but it was more important for me that the team to win. During that, I was able to score a goal and it was the best feeling. “Tomo-san” (Tomoko Tanaka) gave me a great pass and I got a lucky shot, so I was very happy.
- Is the goal celebration something you came up with before the match, or did it come from the emotion of the moment?
- I didn’t come up with it in advance. (Laughs) It just came about from my joy at the moment.
- What do the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies mean to you?
- It’s a club that raised me over a long time. Now I want to repay them by leaving good results.
- It’s Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies’ first year in the WE League, what kind of player would you like to become and what kind of career would you like to have?
- I want to be an irreplaceable member of this team, to participate as the heart of the team. My dream is to win the league as a member of Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies, to join Nadeshiko Japan, and to be active on the world stage.
- Please give us your final words regarding the team’s first WE League challenge.
- In our first season at the WE League, we will do our best to stir a Cerezo whirlwind and join the championship race. Thank you in advance for your support.