On the 24th, Ado Onaiwu, who joined the Reds, held a press conference with Sports Director Satoshi Horinouchi, where he answered questions from the media about the circumstances of his joining the team and his aspirations for the future.

[Satoshi Horinouchi SD]
"Hello everyone. Thank you all for coming today to the press conference announcing the signing of Ado Ado Onaiwu. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone involved who has worked so hard to make this transfer possible. Thank you very much."

With the addition of Ado Ado Onaiwu, I am confident that Urawa Reds, as a team and club, will reach an even higher level both on and off the pitch. Thank you for your support today."

[Ado Onaiwu]
"Thank you for gathering here today. My name is Ado Onaiwu, and I will be joining Urawa Reds."

It's been nine years since my last visit, but I'm happy to be playing here again. When I was with the club in the past, I didn't get many opportunities to play, and I didn't have many opportunities to express myself, but this time I've been given another chance here, so I'd like to do my best for the club, to produce results and help the team move up. Thank you for your support."

[Question and Answer Session]
(I would like to ask Mr. Onaiwu, how prepared are you for the transfer?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I myself was not blessed with many opportunities to play at my previous club, and even after the change of manager I didn't get much playing time, but the club (Urawa Reds) enthusiastically told me that they needed me. I decided to join Urawa Reds because I wanted to be able to do for the team what I wasn't able to do when I was with them in the past."

(How did you end up wearing the number 45?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I've been wearing the number 45 since I was in Japan, and it's like my lucky number, so I wanted to continue wearing it, so I chose the number 45."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi, when did the move to acquire Onaiwu begin?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"Regarding (Onaiwu) Ado, his name has been high on our scouting list for the past few years, rather than just recently. He is a player we have followed on video, including during his time in France. As for how the timing came to this, as you all know, when it comes to transfers, I think that generally there are three factors that influence the decision - the acquiring club, the sending club, and the player's wishes - and in this case, I think the timing was right."

(What aspect of his game did you expect from him in order to acquire him?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"In terms of our current system, we expect him to perform well in the number 9 (striker) and number 10 (attacking midfielder) positions. However, as I've spoken to Adou, he also played on the wing during his time in France, so I'd like him to be able to fully utilize his strengths, scoring ability and running ability in multiple positions, with number 9 and number 10 as his base."

(Mr. Onaiwu, I believe you joined the team today. What about your condition? If you have already communicated with manager Maciej Skorza, what kind of expectations did he have for you?)
Ado Onaiwu
"First of all, it's true that I hardly played in any Trial over there (FC Magdeburg), so I'm sure there are many concerns about that, but of course I was training all the time, and apart from travelling, I was able to train properly before coming here. Since coming here, I've been working with the physical staff and other staff, and I think I was fully prepared by the time I met up with everyone and trained today, so I don't think there will be any major issues in that regard. I'm not worried about Trial feel, but I do think that will be important, so I need to keep an eye on that, including my training.

I spoke briefly with the manager this morning. I think he expects me to be a good forward, in front of the goal and to score goals, and I think he wants me to be the starting point of attacks, so I'm sure there are various conditions, restrictions and formats, but I hope to understand them in my own way, incorporate them into the team and show that in results."

(I would like to ask Mr. Onaiwu, what was your impression of Urawa Reds from the outside? And what do you think of the football being played by Coach Skorja now?)
Ado Onaiwu
"Honestly, I haven't had many opportunities to watch the J.League, so I'm still feeling my way around to know exactly what kind of football we're playing, but there are some players I already know, and a few players I've played with in the past, so I'm communicating with a variety of people, carefully checking each player's strengths and what the team wants to do little by little every day, and I hope to combine that with my own strengths and good points."

(I think you've grown a lot since nine years ago, but specifically what kind of play do you want to show off?)
Ado Onaiwu
"As I said earlier, if we can increase the number of goals in front of the goal and inside the penalty area, I think it will be easier for the team to progress in Trial. Also, I think the team has conceded few goals in the first three Trial of the season, and just because I'm a forward doesn't mean I'm not expected to play defensively, so I think there are many important aspects to consider there as well. I want to do that well, and then ultimately do my job inside the penalty area, and focus on the numbers in terms of goals and assists."

(I would like to ask SD Horinouchi, in terms of registration, will he be able to play in the next match against Kashima Antlers?)
Satoshi Horinouchi SD
"We are currently preparing for this, but nothing has been finalized at this point."

(Will Onaiwu be able to play once he is ready for the Kashima match?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I think I'll be fine in terms of my condition. Of course, I understand how the team will work towards that, and my first goal now is to be able to produce good results when I play, so I'm preparing for that."

(What are your specific goals in the J1 Centennial League?)
Ado Onaiwu
"Obviously, I think the team has a goal of winning the championship, but first and foremost, I want to contribute to the team moving up the rankings by getting into a good position among the 10 teams in the 18 Trial. As an individual, I think we'll be expected to score goals, so I hope to contribute as much as possible in that regard."

(Mr. Onaiwu, in the club's press release you said that you are not a young player, but what kind of attitude do you want to show, not just in terms of your play?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I'm already 30, so statistically I don't think I'm a young player anymore. I want to be a player who can create a positive atmosphere in practice, both in terms of my attitude towards training and in guiding the younger players and the team in a good direction, and I believe I can do that. By communicating closely with various players, I want to get more information about each player and help ensure that the team is strong and can perform well no matter who is on the field."

(What confidence did you gain from the tough battles you faced in Europe?)
Ado Onaiwu
"It doesn't really ring a bell, but I think the past six months have been the most difficult season for me to date. Even in those times, I did my best to do what I could, and although it may not have led to results, I believed in myself that it might lead to something in the future.

There were difficult times at every club, but I think I gained something by continuing to believe in myself, so I want to continue that at Urawa Reds. And I hope that by seeing older players doing the same, younger players will be able to feel something. I think that is necessary for those players to build long and successful careers as professional soccer players.

(I would like to ask Mr. Onaiwu, you are originally from Saitama Prefecture, graduated from high school in Saitama, and will now be playing for Urawa Reds again. How do you feel about playing in Saitama?)
Ado Onaiwu
"Ever since I started playing soccer, I played in Saitama through elementary, junior high and high school. And for us, Urawa Reds was the soccer team of Saitama, so I'm glad to have been given this opportunity again, and I've received messages from many people, including coaches who helped me out in the past and classmates who played at the same club, saying they have high expectations of me, so I hope I can live up to those expectations. I wouldn't go so far as to 'carry everyone's hopes', but there are people in various places who support me, so I hope I can carry their feelings with me as I play."

(A question for Ado Onaiwu: When you left the Reds, did you ever imagine coming back?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I'm not the type to think too much about 'I want to come back', but I think I just go with what I feel at the time and what I think is the right place to be, and the fact that I'm here now means that it's the right choice. Of course, it would have been nice if I had left something behind when I was with the club in the past, but that's in the past now, and now that I'm here, I hope I can build something new here with the current players, and as for titles that I could only watch back then, we won the ACL (AFC Champions League) title back then, but I could only watch from the sidelines, so I think it would be best if I could contribute on the pitch by scoring goals and win something like that. Anyway, I think being here now is everything."

(This question is for Ado Ado Onaiwu. When you were with Yokohama F･Marinos, you were competing with Kawasaki Frontale for the championship. What did you learn about the importance of being on a winning team while being at the forefront of the championship race?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I transferred to France in the middle of the season, so I think there was a sense of tension in the title race at the end of the season, but when I was with Yokohama F･Marinos, I always gave 100 percent in training, regardless of whether I was playing or not, and my motivation for Trial was high. Today is the only time I've trained here with everyone, so I don't know yet how motivated or what kind of Trial sense I have, but I think there is something I can share with everyone, and since I was able to win the Ligue 2 (French second division) and Coupe de France (French domestic cup) titles with my teammates in France, I think there is something I can share with everyone, and I hope to be able to share that as we train together again from now on."

(Winning the Centennial League currently underway will lead to the ACL and even the FIFA Club World Cup, but what are your thoughts on Asia and the world?)
Ado Onaiwu
"When I was there, they won the ACL, so I think they are a club that can aim for that kind of position, and they are a club that has won titles in Asia three times, so I would like us to stand on that stage as well. From my perspective at the time, I wasn't even able to play in Trial, I wasn't even on the team, I was just watching, so I hardly felt like I had won anything myself. I want to contribute and win a title, and I think that being able to take on the challenge again with Urawa Reds will be another motivation for me. I would like to be able to make a positive impact on the team from various angles, so that it is not just my own motivation, but everyone's motivation as well."

(I have a question for Onaiwu. He seems to have become smarter compared to when he was playing for Renofa Yamaguchi FC. What kind of player is he now?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I think I've been to a lot of different clubs, so I've experienced a lot of different managers and football styles. Within that, how can I make the most of myself, can the players around me make the most of me, and can I score in the end by making the most of the players around me? After all, it's not a sport you can play by yourself, and I think in many cases you thrive when someone understands you and makes the most of that.

He's not the type of player who can dribble past three or four players and score by himself, so I think it's important to be able to communicate with those around him, understand the tactics, and understand each player's individual characteristics. That was the case in France, too, and I want to find out more about players and increase the number of patterns like that, such as whether I can move when I think the ball is coming from that player."

(Mr. Onaiwu, which person or soccer player has had the greatest influence on you?)
Ado Onaiwu
"I get asked that question quite a bit, but I'm not really influenced by anyone. I've loved watching European football since I was little, so I've seen a lot of different players, including strikers and offensive players, but it's hard to pinpoint just one person."

(I would like to ask Mr. Onaiwu, when you were loaned to Renofa Yamaguchi FC, I thought, "Are there really players who can turn these opportunities into opportunities?" How hard did you work at that time?)
Ado Onaiwu
"When I was at Yamaguchi, the coach was Shimo-san (Masahiro Shimoda), and he said to me, 'Let's work hard together at Yamaguchi,' and I felt that Shimo-san trusted me, and when I spoke to him before I transferred to Yamaguchi, I had a good sense of what he wanted to do. The results were good, and for me, it was a time when it was important to play in Trial, score goals, and play with confidence, so in that sense, I think that year really helped me to deepen my confidence, especially as a player.

At the time, Yamaguchi was a team competing at the bottom of the J2 league, but I think we still put up a good fight that year, and it was a year that I was very satisfied with both as an individual and as a team, so there were many things I learned there and many areas that I realized I needed to do more of. I didn't get to play in Trial with Urawa Reds, but after practice I continued to train with various people, including Nobu-san (Coach Nobuyasu Ikeda), and it was frustrating not being able to Trial there. I was confident that I could do it, so I'm very grateful to Shimo-san and Yamaguchi for giving me the opportunity to show that."

Click here to see the press conference












[Urawa Reds Official Media (URD:OM)]