JSoccer Exclusive Interview with Keigo Tsunemoto

A few weeks back, Lionel Piguet was in Switzerland to cover Japanese players in Europe for JSoccer Magazine... Here is his short interview of Servette's (and former Kashima Antlers star defender) Keigo Tsunemoto...

J.Soccer Magazine: Thank you for your time... today we'd like to move away from talking about today's game and ask you some general questions about your career so far. Hopefully that's all good with you?!

Keigo Tsunemoto (26); Servette FC: Certainly, go ahead!

JS: Firstly, you left Kashima Antlers at a young age and very quickly, and it seems that the Antlers youth system produces many players who do this... but, it is especially true for Antlers, that many players return to the team after experiencing a sojourn overseas. As we speak I can think of Mitsuo Ogasawara, Koji Nakata, Atstuto Uchida, Koki Anzai, Yuma Suzuki and most recently, Gaku Shibasaki and Kento Misao. Why do you think this happens?

KT: I have great respect for the Antlers organisation, and am very grateful for them allowing me to develop, and then grow with an overseas move. I still watch J.League, and of course, keep up with Kashima Antlers very closely. If the opportunity arose in the future, I would definitely also consider a return to Antlers.

JS: Fans in Japan and fans in Europe are very different. Today, for example the game was interrupted a little due to over-enthusiastic fans! What are your thoughts on fans over here?

KT: The culture of the fans in Japan and Europe is very different. When I first arrived I was shocked by some of the things I saw, but I've been here more than a year now and am getting used to it! It's interesting and fun to see.

JS: We saw the game today stopped for three or four minutes, due to flares(?), does this happen at every game?

KT: No, not every game, just the big ones, the derbies and the like.

JS: You've been here at Servette for well over a year already... do you plan to stay longer?

KT: My contract was for three years, so I'm here for another year, until next summer at least. Then, who knows. I want to make the step up to the Japan national team ... if good offers come along - a new challenge, or if Servette wish me to stay... I'm considering options.

JS: Who are some of the people who have influenced you in your career so far? Perhaps when you played for Yokohama F.Marinos in your youth days, or at Meiji University, or when you played for Japan's U17 national team, is there anyone who has really helped you along the way?

KT: There are so many people who have helped me along the way. Probably the most influential person in my career so far is Meiji University manager/head coach (Daisuke Kurita) who advised me after the disappointment of not making it as a professional with F.Marinos, at that time, and then took care of me for four years - as a footballer and as a person - before I moved to Antlers. Then, of course there is René (Weiler, manager at Antlers, and the manager who took Tsunemoto to Servette), who listened to my dream of playing in Europe, and then helped it come true.

JS: Who would you consider to be the most difficult opponents you've faced so far in your career?

KT: So far I've played against some very talented players, but probably the hardest opponent I've faced is Kaoru Mitoma, currently at Brighton (& Hove Albion), in the Premier League. He seems to be able to do anything! This season... in the Europa League, we faced Chelsea, and Mykhailo Mudryk was a very difficult opponent. You could see the quality in all aspects of his play, from skills to speed and more. He have me a really hard time.

JSoccer: Thank you for your time, and best wishes for the rest of the season, and beyond!