Being Arata Part 3: playing for the national team, ATK and Mumbai FC

In Part 1, Arata talks about his childhood, introduction to football, early club career in Singapore & Japan and also how came to know about Indian football. In Part 2, he talks about his journey in India with clubs like East Bengal to Pune FC. 

ARATA IZUMI received Indian citizenship in May 2012 which made him eligible to play for the national team.

"The fact that I was an Indian by birth (birth certificate) was the only reason that I could change my citizenship."

In 2013, he was part of the Indian team and featured in the friendlies and later he was also called for AFC Challenge Cup and the SAFF championship. Talking about playing for the Indian team, he said,

"It was a dream in my footballing career to play for the national side, Japan didn't happen. India gave me this chance which was huge."

I asked him if he was disappointed that he couldn't play for Japan as they are one of the footballing nations that also play in the FIFA World Cup. He gave a modest answer,

"Disappointment, yes but I wasn't good enough. Not even close to the standards of Japanese footballers. But in India, I had a chance and I can't thank them enough for the opportunity they gave me."

He still wants to play for the national side,

"I still want to play and I'm ready to if given a chance. I'm working hard towards getting into the squad but I can see that they want a younger side and I think they are doing the right thing. But you know if there is still a chance for me, I will be more than happy to grab it."

With the same enthusiasm and excitement he spoke about his ISL experience. He did not play in the first season and he explains why,

"In the first edition of ISL, players from Pune FC were not allowed to play. Not only Pune but Bengaluru and few others too. But at the last moment, one of the ISL teams approached me to join them and my owner (Pune FC) told me that 'you are free to go'. But then it was in the middle of the season and the coach did not want to lose me as I was an important player. It wasn't fair on my part to leave the club and the coach midway."

"Then I thought to myself, unless they give me insane amount of money I will not go because that can change my life. So the money offered to me was good but not that great. Then I came to a conclusion that may be this is not the time for me to leave Pune FC."

In the second season of ISL, he recalls he had no choice left as Pune FC was shutting down and the owners there suggested that if he wants to join ISL then he must go ahead. He talks about how he landed with Atletico de Kolkata,

"I wouldn't agree till my conditions and demands were fulfilled. Once that was done I was ready to be part of it and then came the auction and ATK chose me."

ISL experience he states had a lot of ups and downs,

"In the beginning it all went well, I was picked by ATK for a good amount of money. I was happy and excited as they were champions of the first season, everything was perfect. Training was held at the Atletico de Madrid's ground, we were wearing their playing kit but I lost my confidence completely. For three and a half weeks we were there and towards the end I couldn't get along. The level of playing and training was just too good for me that I could not adjust. I was like which part of the planet are they from! I consider myself as a good footballer but I just couldn't follow. I was putting too much of pressure on me. I couldn't even stop the ball and kick it."

He was let down so much that he called his family to let his emotions out,

"I struggled so much, I called my family and told them that I cannot do this anymore and want to quit football, it was that extreme. Then I spoke to my friend who was in Germany, he is a Japanese but worked as an agent in Germany. And he told me that 'don't let this take a heavy toll on you, just let it go and take it as it comes. If you can't then you can't, if you can then you can, so don't take too much pressure'. After that conversation I was a bit relieved and then my attitude towards it changed and I accepted that it's just football, nothing different and slowly started to gain my confidence."

It is true that a friend can console you and help you get back in the game.

"I then started playing very comfortably. The first match I did not play much, just few minutes. The atmosphere in ISL was great but it did not come as a surprise to me. I took it normally, like okay it's just a football match. That game we won against Chennaiyin FC and second was against FC Goa. In that match too, I scored and was happy with my performance. After that everybody's attitude towards me changed. Then against Kerala also I scored but got an injury which kept me away for four matches after that."

"Even after I returned from the injury, it was against Kerala, I had more goals to my name. From thereon I was full of confidence. I was very comfortable and had no problem at all. Playing alongside Postiga and Hume, I didn't feel any different and I was back to normal giving my best."

How was it like to share the dressing room with Postiga and Hume?

"Postiga is such a friendly guy, he didn't have to say anything but his presence was felt. Most of the times he was injured but he kept motivating us throughout. He wants to comeback and is working real hard for it. A great professional!"

"Hume also, he is one of the greatest players I've played with, what a player, what a human being! He is just too good."

Arata was so much in awe of Hume that he confessed how delighted he would be to see an appreciation piece on his team mate Iain Hume.

How was your relation with Coach Habas?

"Initially he was disappointed in me. There was a lot of expectations from me, they bought me during the auction with so much trust and I wasn't able to live up to it. But then when I started playing and scoring goals, I'm sure later he accepted me, I am footballer so as long as I can give my best, I will be appreciated. He is a very simple guy and puts across everything directly and to the point. He cannot speak much English but you can still understand what he wants. I'm sure that he is the best coach that I've ever played with."

When asked to explain his ISL experience in one sentence? After a long pause, he said,

"It changed my view towards football completely. It helped me transform from a player to a good player!"

Thoughts on the ISL merger,

"This is very difficult to talk about but all I can hope as a player, as a biggest supporter of Indian football is that whatever happens, merger or no merger it has to be good for Indian football. There are a lot of things you have to consider. ISL is one very good football league. It also has high number of viewership so one cannot ignore that part. Offcourse it is more like entertainment but the quality of football is also great."

"I-League is also good and cannot be ignored as there are owners who put in so much of money and passion for Indian football. At the end of the day, its a buisness and I totally understand how emotions won't affect the thought process of businessmen but I hope if we can join hands for the betterment of Indian football then that is the best. I cannot give my opinion but that is what I think."

And now we come to the present, where Arata Izumi is playing for Mumbai FC and in two months he has already won many hearts.

"So after ISL ended I got many offers from East Bengal, Sporting, Salgaocar and Mumbai FC and talks with them was on before I concluded that I will be playing for Mumbai."

Since he had mentioned about Sporting and Salgaocar approaching him earlier, I asked him if Goa didn't excite him as it is hailed as a footballing city, to which he replied,

"This time when they came around, my first priority was Salgaocar, I can say it out now. Because the first offer was from them, their coach (Malcolm Thomson) who is not with the team anymore wanted to talk to me and was very much keen in having me in his team. And it sounded very interesting and I always wanted to play for a team in Goa and I thought this was a good chance for me. So the talks went on for less than a month but the conditions offered by Salgaocar were not that great. East Bengal topped the list as always. Then one by one, I started striking off clubs depending on the condition."

He was friends with Taisuke Matsugae who is with Mumbai,

"I was good friends with Taisuke and he called me and through him I got in touch with Coach Khalid. At this time negotiations with other clubs were going on and then Khalid Jamil called me and said that give me a day's time and he would get back."

"Whenever people said they will get back to me the next day, it never happened so I thought even this would be something like that. But then as he said he did call and that was the deciding factor for me. I could feel that he wants me, the condition was not as good as East Bengal but decent. Another positive factor was being close to family and then lot of things fell into place with my demands so I said perfect!"

He also spoke about his relation with Taisuke and Kozawa, both Japanese players who are part of Mumbai FC.

"They make me feel very comfortable while playing and otherwise. But as a whole this season Mumbai has one of the best teams at least on paper and in fact our performance initially was real good but then recently main players started to get injured and therefore it affected our game and also lost many points."

Have you grown closer to other players except Taisuke and Kozawa?

"Yes offcourse Sushil is there, Minchol is there and now, Nabi and Clifford have joined. And now I'm familiar with all the players. I know these players and they will give their best. Playing with players whom you are familiar with helps a lot. As a midfielder it is important to know your fellow mates."

Is the role of a mentorship an added pressure or do you consider it as your responsibility?

"I actually stopped thinking about it when I played in the ISL. Before that I was thinking that I had all the responsibility on my shoulders to be a mentor or guide the youngsters. Then I realised that I cannot do it, I'm just a human being and eventually stopped thinking about it. In a team you have to share the responsibility so when I first came to Mumbai, I thought how should I start talking because the young players might be intimidated so I wanted to be really casual with them and also in the game. Players like Ashutosh, Jayesh, Eric, Minchol, I can put my trust in them because they will do their job and I can concentrate on mine. This team is really a good team."

Coach Khalid is known to be a soft spoken guy and doesn't talk much, how is he during the team talks?

"He will put things across very simply and state what we have to do and after that he knows he has lot of experience players. The best thing about his is that he gives his players a lot of freedom while playing. He will tell us the basic things but then what we do on the field is what we think is the best at the moment. But offcourse he guides us throughout the match so overall he is very helpful and easy to work with."

Thoughts on the fans, Yellow Brigade,

"This is the first season for these guys and it's amazing how united they are. Their songs, chants, there is a chant for me, it is the biggest motivating factor for a player. These fans and people cheering for you, what else you want, I mean forget about the money and other things but this is just beautiful. These guys are also the reason why we can work hard and that is why we want to give our best which has not happened in the last few games but I hope they still have faith and belief in us and I'm sure we can do better. It is true when it's said that a fan is the 12th player because playing in front of your supporters the atmosphere itself is different."

The players who are not part of the playing 11 are often seen sharing the stands with the fans instead of the VVIP box.

"This is what I think, as a football player, you are always watched by kids and those looking up to you so one must not forget this and so we have to behave in a certain way especially with kids. So a chance with interacting with them, you should always oblige. I love the attention and enjoy it and I love if I can bring happiness to kids by just a shake hand or pose for a picture."

Message for the Yellow Brigade,

"We love you all and I know you love us all and we are gonna give everything for you guys. We are going to give our best."

Will Mumbai FC finish in the top four?

"Yes top four for sure, that's our target because sadly the chance for top three has already gone but top four for sure. 100%."

"This club has been a special club for me, I think any team that I have played for, I have given my heart and soul. I truly believe that this is one of the best teams that I have played with."

We came to the end of our long conversation and in concluding I asked him how would he sum up his footballing career so far and he said,

"Well no one's life can be bland, or black and white. It can't be just one colour. My life has been colourful in my way and that is what I'm enjoying."

And on that note we parted ways with the same warm handshake and smile with which he had welcomed me.