Being a rescue guard is an thankless task, but the patience of the Japanese veteran Shunoki Ando came in his fruit this week, when he played his first match in 9 years.
The 34 -year -old played his 17th season with Kawasaki Frontali, just like him in 24 games, before reporting his colors on Tuesday in the AFC Champions League against Central Coast Marines.
His last match took place in May 2016, but Ando did not show any signs of rust and provided a good level in the 2-0 victory of his team, after his team was qualified in the roles of exclusion.
Ando spent all his seasons except one in the ranks of the elite League with Kawasaki, and said that he did not regret this trip in his career, “The goalkeeper is a privacy center , and the change is not easy, but I always thought that I would have my chance and that I would train to be ready when the opportunity arises.
“I have never lost confidence or enthusiasm. Of course, there is frustration, but an incentive has never retracted,” he added.
Ando grew up in the ranks of Kawasaki juniors and became a professional in 2009, then started his career the following year.
He suffered from withdrawing the main goalkeeper of the team, lending to Seonan Belmani before returning to his mother club quickly.
Nevertheless, he found the road to the complicated main team, and until Tuesday, he had played a match in 11 years.
Collective player
Ando said that moving to another dangerous team in his mind earlier in his career, before being convinced that playing with Kawasaki is the “most important thing”: participating in the match last night was a very happy moment for me .
“If I move to another club, I think my passion would have been withdrawn,” he added.
Ando is not the only goalkeeper in the world, most of his career spends reserve seats or on the stands.
Spain Albert Gorgira only played 7 championship games in 6 years with Barcelona at the start of the millennium, while the Englishman Stoart Taylor, who passed with Arsenal and Aston Villa, played less than 100 games in March 21 years old.
Ando does not consider himself an alternative goalkeeper, because he trains every day as if he is a key goalkeeper in the next match.
And when he is not chosen, he tries to motivate other players and sympathize with those who are far from the starting training.
Ando says he plays an important role in pressing the main guards during the exercises: “If you have 4 guards in your club, and that they participate well in the exercises, it develops the level of everyone and positively reflects on the team. “
“Everyone should be confident, give everything in the exercises and prepare for matches together, then discover the player’s main identity, who will sit on the bench or the stands. If you coincide, everything will collapse.”
Modern thirst
Kawasaki is one of the most successful clubs in Japan and won the League title 5 times between 2017 and 2021.
Ando joined the celebrations, but he admits that the lack of play has left him “a feeling of dissatisfaction”.
There have been difficult times, similar to last season when it was only chosen twice between my base and the history of Kawasaki in the League and its name was not included in the Champions League ‘AFC.
But his sudden return to the team this week again sparked the fire of the excitement, even if he has pushed any decisive ball against the humble central cost, “I want to play again, this is renewed my thirst .
“I kept my clean window, and that gives me confidence. This is proof that what I was doing is not wrong,” he added.