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From Cerezo, Aiming for the World

Shinomi Koyama Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies

Fun Football
From the Left Full-Back

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 seventh installment in our series of interviews with players shouldering grand expectations, we are joined by the 18-year-old who bears the number 10, Shinomi Koyama.

Firstly, please tell us about your playstyle and defining characteristics.
The characteristic of my playstyle is participating in attacks with my abundant momentum.
Are you particular when it comes to dribbling?
When dribbling, I try to focus on striking the opposite side of my opponent.
Currently you usually play as left full-back, but you also have experience playing in offensive positions. What do you think of being able to play in many different positions?
Because I am capable in multiple positions, I have the chance to participate in many different positions depending on the flow of the match. I think I can become a frightening player.
What do you think the team expects from you?
I think I am expected to be a starting point for a breakthrough when things aren’t going well for the team.
Koyama strives to be a modern side back who can make a game
Koyama strives to be a modern side back who can make a game
As a left full-back, what kind of play and role do you strive for?
To go on the offensive. It’s still a challenge, but I want to increase the times where I can be the starting point for creating opportunities and when I am involved in scoring. A modern full-back is a position which can make a game, so I am enjoying the position.
So, there is a game-making element to the full-back that you are enjoying.
Yes. Rather than simply vertical lines, there are more and more full-backs around the world who get involved in the mid-field. That’s the type of player I admire. Of course, I don’t want to only make games, I want to leave results, such as goals and assists.
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?
As a team, I think we did better than I expected. However, we had to make up for our flaws by running a lot, and we lacked the technique to breakthrough deadlocks. So, I felt we have to improve our quality. There are a lot of personal tasks as well. Especially when it comes to offensive plays. Whether it’s not being able to take shots when I had the opportunity, not being able to pull off crosses, or general quality after making it into the attacking third, I felt like I need a lot of improvement.
In the second half of the previous season, you played with INAC Kobe Leonessa, as a temporary transfer. What was that half a year like for you?
When playing for INAC, I had a lot of chances to learn from older players. I was able to absorb a lot, especially by playing with members of Nadeshiko Japan. I think that experience is why I am able to play with some confidence in the WE League since coming back to Cerezo.

Koyama appreciates the atmosphere of Cerezo

You are still a younger player, but do you plan to use your accumulated experience fulfil a core team role during the team’s first year in the WE League?
I don’t consider myself a core player, but I do want to work hard with the players around me so that I can improve. In that respect, I would like to be the center of the team and to engage those around me.
You have a lot of experience in national team activities, such as the U-20 World Cup last year and the Asian Games this year. Do you have any memorable competitions or episodes?
I have a lot of memories from my national team activities, but the strongest memory is the U-20 World. The final was a big one, but the biggest for me personally was the quarter final versus France, where an exchange of goals ended with a penalty shoot-out, which we won.
Experience in world competitions is invaluable.
Even though I participated in an “under” tournament, but the influence of the world cup is incredible. I felt that I could be seen by so many fans by participating there, and that I wanted to participate in the main world cup.
You won a gold medal at the Asian Games representing Japan. What lessons did you take away from this tournament?
I feel like the Asian Games have broadened my range in terms of play. By playing and coordinating together with front line players, I was able to increase the number of plays where I could get involved and create chances. I want to use those experiences for the team.
It seems like there’s a lot that you were able to take away from national team experience.
The national team was an inspiring place for me, and it made me think that I need to aim higher. So, I always enjoyed it and I look forward to doing it again.
Once again, you have a strong desire to play overseas?
I do. While playing against foreign players at the U-20 World Cup, I felt that I wanted to go to that environment as soon as possible and step up my game. From Cerezo, Honoka (Hayashi), Saori (Takarada) and Maika (Hamano) went overseas. The influence of players so close to me going abroad makes me want the same thing all the more.
To make your dream of playing overseas a reality, I’m sure you want to leave results for the team. Once again, what do the Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies mean to you?
It’s a place that let me grow. As “Tori-san” (coach Nobuhito Toriizaka) said, “from Cerezo to the world,” I am happy to be in an environment where we always play to world standards. I am grateful to have been in such an environment since junior high school.
What kind of player would you like to become?
I want to be a frightening player. I want to become a player who can break deadlocks, score goals and steal balls. In the near future, I want to spread my wings from Cerezo to become a player who participates on the world stage.
Whether or not Koyama can score many goals will be one of the keys that determines the team’s rise or fall
Whether or not Koyama can score many goals will be one of the keys that determines the team’s rise or fall
I believe playing with Hamano has been a big inspiration for you, but have spoken to her since she was transferred overseas?
She told me “you should come soon,” and she taught me some of the characteristics of overseas football.
You played together in the U-20 World Cup and contributed to becoming runner-up. Were you happy to be on the national team together?
Yes. It was the best feeling to play together after so long. I felt like she knows everything, a player that understands everything, like where I need her to be. And Maika was a player who could run and score when the team wasn’t doing well, and I feel like I have to become a player like that.
Please give us your final words regarding the team’s first WE League.
I want to play aggressive football, characteristic of Cerezo, football that is fun for the spectators. While doing that, I also want to show the fans football with attention to detail, where we don’t lose the ball and make it to the goal. The team has the target of making it to the top 5, and, while I personally want to say we will win the whole thing, I want to focus on winning match after match and crawling our way to the top. Thank you in advance for your support.
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