Pride. Literally, pride, self-esteem.
Although every professional soccer player has this in their heart,
Each player's approach and mindset is very different.
This season's WE ARE GAMBA OSAKA is,
Deep in the hearts of the players,
Revealing each person's pride.

Kota YAMADA, who started his professional career with Yokohama F･Marinos in 2018 and has been on loan transfers since 2019 in pursuit of growth, developed a "pride" that is still relevant today when he made a permanent transfer to Montedio Yamagata in 2022. The experience of being in the thrilling battle of the J2 League until the final round, grabbing a spot in the J1 entry playoffs and aiming for promotion, made him even more aware of fighting as a member of a team.
"During my first year with Marinos, I was given the opportunity to start in several games, and felt happy and fulfilled to be able to compete as a home-grown player. However, after that, during the period when I was repeatedly transferred on loan, to be honest, I was overwhelmed with my own concerns... I think all I could think about was, "I have to perform well." But after transferring to Yamagata on a permanent basis in 2022, and playing in thrilling games as a central player, I think I developed a stronger desire to "do it for the team." I began to think of myself as being who I am because of the team, and my first priority became showing my own colors within the style and colors of the team I was playing for."
It's the same for Gamba. With respect for the team's past and a determination to make new history, he steps onto the pitch, conscious of how he can shine within the team's style.
"When I was a kid, I thought of Gamba as a strong team, so much so that I would choose Gamba in soccer games. I remember that my team included Yatto-san (Coach Yasuhito ENDO), Myojin-san (Tomokazu/ GAMBA OSAKA Youth Coach), Lucas-san, and Fujigaya-san (Yosuke/ GAMBA OSAKA Junior Youth GK Coach). However, given the reality that the team has been far from winning titles for the past few years, it's a little different for us at Gamba to go onto the pitch with the mindset of being an "unbeatable team." It's important to know the history of the past as a responsibility to wear this emblem, but what we need to do now is not to cling to the past, but to face the present sincerely in order to create new history. In fact, there are many new players on this year's team, including myself, but there is a strong atmosphere of wanting to blend in well with existing players such as Takashi-kun and Usami-kun and create new history for Gamba from here on out. As a member of that team, I will fully understand the tasks required of me and continue to fight for Gamba's victory."
At every game, I am inspired by the enthusiastic cheers coming from the stands.
"Many of our supporters are aware of Gamba's glorious history of winning titles in the past, but they are also constantly bringing in new fans to support us and the current Gamba. The only way for us to respond to that passion is to keep fighting and trying our best to win every game. In this way, we want to turn the "for Gamba" feelings that we all have in our hearts into passion in the stadium and keep winning together."
I believe that each and every joy that awaits us will become a new chapter in Gamba's history.


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Text by Takamura Misa

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