Brighton's Japanese international Kaoru Mitaka candidly shared his upbringing and change of heart in an interview on the ABEMA program, showing his metamorphosis from a rebellious student player to the mature professional he is today.
Facing a question from his predecessor Zheng Da Shi about whether he was ever reprimanded by Nakamura Kenko, Kaoru Sanfonium frankly admitted that his coaches from childhood to adulthood had criticized him harshly. He revealed that as a student, he was quite a difficult player to deal with and was prone to rebel against his coach's reprimands due to his lack of maturity. However, it was this experience that made him gradually realize the importance of self-control.
Regarding the change in his personality, Kaoru Mitaka said that he began to mature after going to college and realized that as a professional player he had to learn to control his emotions and behavior. For this reason, he undertook a lot of mental training, increased opportunities to talk to himself, and tried to adjust his mindset to the intense competition of professional soccer.
Talking about when he thought he could become a professional player, Kaoru Mitaka's answer is full of humility and gratitude. He confessed that even when he graduated from college, he was not completely sure that he would be able to embark on a professional career. After entering the professional league, he felt his inadequacy and anxiety even more deeply. Especially in his first year at Kawasaki Striker, he was mentally prepared for a long period of inability to play in the face of a strong lineup and fierce competition. However, it was the quality of his teammates and the guidance of his coaches that allowed him to find his way forward in the midst of adversity, and he eventually rose to prominence.
Kaoru Sanfelt's story tells us that becoming a good professional football player requires not only talent and hard work, but also constant mental adjustment and self-transcendence. His journey inspires every young soccer player to pursue his dream. As long as he is persistent and brave enough to face challenges, he will surely be able to blossom on the green field with his own luster.
