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| Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu
is one of the best goal keepers in Japan. He has a gift for playing soccer
and saving the goal. His plays are excellent and he makes fine plays many
times in a game. This owes not only his talent but also efforts which he
has made since he was an elementary school student.
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| He began to play soccer
when he was in the third grade. He was affected by his older brother, Yuichi,
who belonged to the soccer club at school. Yoshikatsu was good at catching
the ball and kicking it far, so he became a goal keeper. He liked practicing
than playing games, so he developed his ability well. When he was in the
fourth grade, he became the regular goal keeper in spite of there being
fifth and six grade students in the team.
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| When he was in the six
grade, he decided to go to Toukai Daigaku Dai Ichi Junior High School,
because this school had a good soccer team. He thought that the excellent
manager and team mates would be good for him to improve his ability. Yoshikatsu
was also good at studying so he passed in the entrance examination at the
top of his class.
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| When he was in the seventh
grade, his team won the second prize of "The All Japan Junior High School
Soccer Championship". In the eighth grade, he participated in "The All
Japan Junior Youth Championship" and played on the Kokuritsu Kyugijo (The
National Ball Game Ground) for the first time.
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| In 1991, he entered
Shimizu Shogyo High School. He became the regular keeper in his first year.
When he was in the twelfth grade, he lead the team as a captain and his
team won "The High School Soccer Championship". This meant his team was
the strongest team of high schools in Japan.
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| In 1994, he graduated
from high school and joined the professional soccer team "Yokohama Marinos",
because this team had Mr. Matsunaga who had the best ability as a goal
keeper in Japan. Yoshikatsu admired him and wanted to learn from him. In
1995, Mr. Matsunaga left the team, so Yoshikatsu became the regular goal
keeper. He tried hard, and in this year Marinos won the championship. Yoshikatsu
was also awarded as "The Best Freshman" and "Best Eleven".
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| In 1996, he participated
in Atlanta Olympics as the goal keeper for the Japan team. Japan had not
been able to participate in Olympic Games for 28 years, because Japan could
not play good games in Asia. In Atlanta, Japan did not pass the preliminary
heats, but they won against a powerful rival, Brazil.
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| Yoshikatsu has brilliant
sense of playing soccer and much competence. Moreover, he is so youthful
that he can develop his ability more and more. We have high hopes for his
future.
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| References: "Goal ha Ore ni Makasero! 'Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu'" written by Ohnuki Tetsuyoshi (published by Shufu to Seikatsu Sya) |
