Former Japan national team goalkeeper Gonda Shuichi (権田修一) of Kobe expressed his desire to return to the Japan national team following his performances in the 100-Year Vision League, describing the fall-spring season format as a new challenge. Speaking in an online interview ahead of the opening match, he said the league was also attracting considerable attention in Japan.
Former Japan national team goalkeeper Gonda Shuichi (権田修一) of J1 Kobe spoke in an online interview on the 7th ahead of the opening match against Fukuoka, sharing his views on creating a new history through the 100-Year Vision League and introducing a fall-spring season format across the league. The opening match will be held at Best Denki Stadium, and he said the tournament was attracting considerable attention because it comes immediately after the World Cup.
Gonda Shuichi (権田修一) contributed to the title in the 100-Year Vision League, including by playing every minute of the playoff round, and indicated that the opening match in Kyushu had significance. Although he said it had not yet been decided whether he would play in the opening match in Fukuoka, he spoke from his own perspective about the significance of holding the match in Kyushu.
He is also aiming to return to the Japan national team and suggested that performing at an even higher level in the 100-Year Vision League could lead to a chance to play at the North and Central American World Cup. He reiterated his ambitious view that "the goalkeeper of Japan's best club should be selected for the Japan national team."
As a veteran goalkeeper, he emphasized his desire to build a new history for Kobe. He indicated that, in the new era of the fall-spring season format, improving the quality of his own play could lead to selection for the national team.