On the 19th, Isaac Kiese Thelin visited Saitama Municipal Harayama Elementary School and, as "Reds Teacher," gave a lesson to sixth-grade students on the theme of "dreams."

"Reds Sensei" is an initiative undertaken under Urawa Reds philosophy of "contributing to the healthy development of young people as members of society," aiming to help children in the hometown feel closer to the club and players through interaction, while also delivering dreams, hope, and courage.



This time, Isaac spoke to the children while looking back on his life, talking about the thoughts and efforts he had before realizing his childhood dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
When Isaac arrived at the elementary school gymnasium, he was greeted with warm applause from the children, and with a cheerful expression on his face, he took the stage and took the microphone. In front of the bright-eyed children, Isaac first spoke about why he was able to achieve his dream of becoming a professional soccer player:
"As I grew up, there were people who told me, 'You'll never succeed,' or 'You can't do it,' but I always believed in myself and used those words as motivation to get to where I am today."
This was what Isaac most wanted to convey to the children that day.
It was the importance of having faith and determination to pursue your dreams no matter what adversity you face.





He also said that his experience playing in several countries since turning professional has greatly contributed to his growth.
Having been exposed to a variety of cultures, Isaac's words were fresh to the children and must have left a deep impression on them.
During the question and answer session, children who were very interested in Isaac asked him some childish and frank questions such as, "What will you do about your house when you transfer and move?" Isaac answered with a smile and a gentle tone, "When I first went to France, I bought too much furniture...", creating a peaceful atmosphere in the gymnasium.



In addition, children with experience playing soccer asked questions such as, "How can I get better at soccer?" and "How can I become friends with the ball?"
Isaac responded, "Practice a lot every day. Whether it's soccer, piano, practicing with a team, or hanging out in the park with friends. Whatever the form, just keep doing it. That way, when you look back three years from now, you'll be able to see that you've improved."
He spoke about the importance of having a hard-working attitude, something he himself has maintained since he was a child.

In the second half of the class, the students interacted with the instructors using a ball, and at the end, a representative of the students gave a speech of thanks for the class.





At the end of the lesson, Isaac reiterated the message he wanted to convey most.
"Thank you so much for the wonderful time we had today. As I said earlier, even if people around you say, 'That's impossible' or 'You can't do it,' don't believe them. Not everything that people around you say is true. Believe in the thoughts that come from your heart. I think you are all wonderful children. Do your best."
The children listened intently to Isaac's words, and then gave him a big round of applause.



Finally, a commemorative photo was taken of Isaac and the students from each class, and this "Reds Sensei" program came to an end.

Although it was a short time, this interaction between Isaac and the children as "Reds Sensei" was surely a meaningful one for both of them. We hope that this experience will inspire the children to move forward towards their own dreams.




[Isaac Kiese Thelin]
"Children are symbols of the future, so this was a truly wonderful time. I myself was able to share this time with the children and received a lot of energy. I hope that the children who came today will come to Saitama Stadium, and that they will continue to dream big like children and work hard to do what they want to do."

[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]