And there it is.

I have had this post on my mind for a month or so but didn't know how to word it. Partly as I don't really know how I feel about it myself. The ‘it’ I speak of is my retirement from pursuing the playing of competitive football.

I'm not posting this asking for sympathy or concern but to explain my decision for those whom I don't see often or won’t have the good fortune to bump into anymore.

また久しぶりのブログです。けっこう長い間、考えていたけどどうやって伝えればいいかなと。皆に伝えたい事は、僕はサッカーをやめます。辞めるに対してみんなの同情を貰いたいつもりでわなくただありがとうございましたを言いたかっただけです。

Debut back in 2007

Family always had my back.

Hong kong memories

 

I have never been the most technical player nor the star of the team, but I have always credited myself with a positive attitude, fighting spirit and a work rate that helped me enjoy the career and experiences I have been rewarded with. But 10 years after I first moved to Japan to pursue my dream I have decided to walk away.

僕は、いつもチームで一番上手い訳ではないし、一番必要な選手ではないけれど自分自身には、絶対に戦える、気持ち強く頑張れる事を自慢しました。この道から始まって１０年、僕は新しい道を進みます。

Where it all started.

First call up for Canada wit da brada

First let me say it wasn't an easy decision.

A footballer is all I've ever really been so its hard to see myself as anything else, but playing the last 8 months at an amateur level I have had to realize the reality that I will never achieve the heights and goals I set myself those years ago. My love for the game will never leave me but my hunger and drive to excel in the game has gone. Without that drive to push myself playing would just be for fun and not to succeed. So that being the case, I didn't want to pull my teammates down as a negative attitude is infectious and therefore I decided to quit Tokyo23 to pursue my life outside of playing football.

簡単な気持ちで選んだのではなく今までサッカーで生きてきたので他の道を選ぶのは怖いです。９ヶ月アマチュアでプレーして、昔夢見ていたプロ選手になるのが難しいと決断しました。サッカー選手として必要な向上心が無くなってしまったのが一番の理由です。チームに迷惑をかけたくないので東京２３FCを辞める事にしました。

Being a defender, as a player and a coach I always believed that success on the pitch wasn't how well a player read the game nor how fast he was, it was more how much he wanted the ball that led to his luck or that allowed him to release his skill. In those 50/50 challenges it's not who’s stronger or faster, it’s who wants it more will win the challenge. I lost the belief in myself and realized I needed to quit before I lose myself.

選手の時も指導者の時も技術ではなく強い気持ちを持った選手が玉際など勝利を引き寄せる選手だと僕は思います。僕にはその自信が無くなったので、自分が自分じゃなくなる前に辞めました。

I believe if you commit 100% and focus all your energy on something we all have the potential to achieve all that we want. But if you would rather sleep, or watch tv or generally be lazy then you are kidding yourself if you think you can reach your goals. The world isn't that nice a place. That being said I wasn't fully committed to playing football anymore so thats why I have left the pursuit of that dream.

100%のエネルギーを使わないと100％のポテンシャルを出す事は出来ない。

手を抜いて夢を手に入れれるほど世界は甘くない。

Lastly and most importantly, a big thank you to all that have stood in support of my dream through the freezing winds of Denmark to the humid Hong Kong days. To those who supported me from my youth days in Japan and all others - thank you for everything.

For me football is an event which I have played, watched and enjoyed through the support of those around who have helped and travelled with me through the ups and downs of the past. Thank you.

僕の夢を今まで応援してきてくれた全ての人たちに感謝したい。

サッカーは、イベントなので選手、スタッフ、サポーター、家族全ての人がいて成り立っている。その全ての人達に感謝したい。

近いうちに次の夢をまた皆に言いたいです。

 Click here to watch The last highlight. 最後のハイライトです。