Written by Will Ridgard
‘Express yourself’ if you are attending the Richmond Kickers’ 2017 Open Tryouts.
So says Richmond’s star midfielder Yudai Imura, who earned himself a contract with the Kickers after coming through the 2015 Tryouts.
Imura’s story is different to most. Upon arrival to Richmond in January 2015, he had never been to the United States before. In fact, the Japanese midfielder, who top scored for Richmond with 10 goals during the 2016 season, had only been out of his native country to visit Germany for a soccer tournament when he was 12.
How did the 25-year-old, named in the 2016 USL All-League Second Team, get the opportunity to trial for the Kickers?
“I first heard about the United Soccer League (USL) from Takehiko Nakamura, who works for Blue United Corporation (a sports management agency) in New York,” said Imura.
“I did some extra research and then decided to have three tryouts. My first tryout was with the Wilmington Hammerheads, the second was with Charleston Battery, and the third was the Kickers.”
Out of his comfort zone nearly 7,000 miles from his hometown of Tokyo, it would have been natural for Imura to be apprehensive before the trials.
“I scheduled to be in the US for one month to keep everything as close as possible,” he continued.
“I was nervous for the first tryout in Wilmington, but I was fine after playing a little. In Richmond, nerves were not an issue for me at all because I knew what to expect.
“Communication is important, so I studied the English language a lot, especially the unique soccer terms.”
Imura arguably saved the best Tryout for last as he caught the eye of the Richmond Kickers’ staff, earning a professional contract following an impressive three-day trial.
“Earning a contract could not have felt better,” said Imura, who was playing for Yokogawa Musashino FC previously, a team that play in the top tier of amateur Japanese soccer.
“I felt I had a chance (of getting a contract) with Richmond as I was doing well. My physical condition got better as I stayed longer in the US and mentally, I was very calm so I could show my strong points easily.”
With numerous goals and assists in a breakthrough 2016 season, Imura’s strong points are easy to spot.
“In my case (at the Tryouts), I kept in mind to communicate to people around me,” he explained.
“I told others: ‘I can pass there so I want you to run there’ and ‘what should I do better for you?’ I thought we can get good results if we know each other.
“You just have to express yourself in the best way possible.”
Imura is eagerly anticipating the 2017 season, and will look to build on a successful 2016 season – as an individual and as a team.
“I’m very happy to be in Richmond,” he said. “Everyone is helpful and very kind to me, and I really appreciate all of the support I have.
“We work hard for each other and got some good experiences (from 2016) for next year, I’ll do my best for everybody who is cheering me and maybe I’ll do a dance (goal celebration) for the Kickers soon!”
Richmond Kickers, official USL affiliate of D.C. United, will host 2017 Open Tryouts on January 27-29 and March 10-12, 2017. A select number of players will be invited to participate in three days of intense training and scrimmages in front of technical staff at the Kickers state-of-the-art training facility Ukrop Park in Richmond, Virginia. Eligible college seniors, qualified free agents and talented amateur players that are seeking a professional contract are encouraged to register now at www.richmondkickers.com.
Interested players should submit an application (include a link to application) and $150 registration fee by January 20 or March 3. Space is limited and applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Registration fees are non-refundable. Application fees increase to $195 after the registration deadline. Attendance at all sessions is required.
