Yamada is always at home on soccer field

By: David Gurney
   He’s the mystery man.
   He’s been around the world, has lived in three different countries, on three different continents.
   He probably has enough redeemable frequent flyer miles for the whole family to enjoy. South Brunswick’s own secret agent man.
   Yet, with the different countries and different cultures, for sophomore midfielder Kazuki Yamada, the one unifying factor has been the sport of soccer.
   Yamada, an offensive midfielder for the South Brunswick High School boys varsity team, has made an immediate impact on the program this season after only playing half a season at the freshman level last year. Scoring four goals and assisting on three others. Yamada has become a key contributor on a 9-2-1 team one game away from winning the Red Division for the second time in program history.
   "He’s a little more quiet and laid back than other guys, but he’s very talented and technically sound," coach Chris Hayston said. "People will find out about him if they go to games. He may not stand out at classes, but he stands out as a great player on the field."
   And yet, that’s been the issue so far.
   People only know the name, which they only get right half of the time.
   Not like Kazuki cares the slightest bit.
   "The spelling of my name has been okay so far, except for VTN (Viking Television Network), when they got my last name wrong," Yamada said. "They couldn’t even pronounce it. But as long as they say my first name, people will understand and get the idea."
   "It’s that easy going personae that has allowed Yamada to assimilate so easily into uncharted territory. He moved into South Brunswick late last September as a freshman after spending the previous half decade in Nagoya, Japan, a large metropolitan city (population 2.15 million) metropolitan city about a 90-minute train ride from Tokyo.
   Before that, he resided in Wales of the United Kingdom from the age of 2 to 9. It was during that time, at the age of four, that Yamada was first introduced to soccer.
   "I started playing soccer when I was four," he said. "In Wales, soccer obviously was huge."
   A year ago his father, an employee with the technology company Brother, was relocated to the United States, taking his family in tote. A culture shock for Yamada?
   Hardly.
   Adjusting to life in the US wasn’t the sticky point, it was getting used to grass fields.
   "In Japan, all the fields were sand or muddy, but here all the fields are grass," Yamada said. "It’s much easier to kick the ball off grass."
   With the season already halfway over, Yamada was at a disadvantage moving in with the school year having already started.
   Still, instead of waiting until next year to play, Yamada had an itch he needed to scratch.
   "I just really wanted to play soccer, and through the school was the only way I knew how to at the time," Yamada said. "I just wanted to get involved."
   Thus, his guidance counselor put him in touch with the soccer coaches, he got a physical and went out for the team. Yamada was given a limited tryout, but already the coaching staff knew they had something special with the newcomer.
   "Coach Ryan told me about this kid, told me the kid is pretty good," Hayston said. "We only had around 15 guys on the team, so if you can walk and chew, you were on the team. But Ryan said he’s pretty good, and we’re going to keep him.
   "Not only was he one of our better players on the freshmen team, but Ryan said he might be able to help us out on the varsity level next year."
   So in seven games at the Freshmen level, Yamada made an impact.
   New to the area and program and disadvantaged in that respect, Yamada didn’t know where to play or what to do during the offseason — except hone his skills with the soccer ball around his house and jog consistently. He impressed Hayston in summer workouts and earned a spot on varsity.
   Four games into the regular season, Yamada was given a chance to start. And he has made the most of his opportunity.
   "When the season started, after the first four games, I thought we had a good chance to play this well and I had a feeling I’d get a chance to help," Yamada said. "When I was on the bench I supported my team and eventually I got to play.
   "I just try to give the ball to everyone else. I don’t like to play on my own, I respect my teammates and we’ve done well as a team."
   Now if only they can get his name correct.