Former Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima confesses to his indefatigability: “The desire to get better and better just keeps coming up.
The four-time World Cup legend continues to train in a rural town in France even though he is no longer with his team!
In France’s Ligue 1 this season, the dynamic players Junya Ito (30) and Keito Nakamura (23) of Stade Reims and Takumi Minamino (28) of Monaco, both of whom represent Japan, have been the focus of much attention. Meanwhile–former Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima (40), who played in the league until last season, was at a soccer field in a rural town on the outskirts of the city of Strasbourg in northeastern France.
On the field, which is used by local amateur clubs for training and matches, Kawashima was working out with a personal trainer, stopping the ball with a sideways leap, punching a shot out of bounds, and practicing goalkeeping with his trainer.
Kawashima’s contract with Strasbourg, where he spent five seasons, expired in June of this year. Since then, he has been without a club.
He said, “I continue to practice one-on-one with my trainer and am looking for a new team. The training is very hard, but I am enjoying it, and I feel that I am in better condition than I was in my early thirties (when I was in my prime) (laughs).
Kawashima laughed and reiterated his denial of retirement, saying, “I have no intention of quitting at all.
How does this legend, who has represented Japan in four World Cups since the 2010 tournament in South Africa, maintain his high level of motivation alone with his trainer at an idyllic provincial ground?
