Legendary Heroine of Nadeshiko Japan Retires: Homare Sawa

Japan's women's soccer lost a key pivot today as Homare Sawa, that super striker who won Japan its first World Cup in Germany in 2011, announced her retirement at a press conference in Tokyo, December 17.

She told the press she finds it harder to play "at the topmost level" any longer.

Sawa said she felt "burnt up without regret" right after her team had finished playing the World Cup. Sawa played in altogether 6 world cup games and led her team to the first World Cup championship in 2011 and herself nominated MVP and the leading scorer. She shined in the World Cup in Canada in 2015 when Japan barely missed the championship.
In the London Olympics in 2012, Sawa and her Nadeshiko Japan won the Silver Medal.

At Sawa's hometown soccer team, Furoku Soccer Club, Fuchu, Tokyo, over 50 club members flocked in the ground today kicking balls tohurry their retiring legend. Sawa joined the club at age 8 to have her first feel of the game.

One of the club members, a 9-year-old Sakura Nashiki, comments:

"I'm so sorry I can't watch Sawa-san play anymore. She had her way of scoring - so impressive. I want to be just like her, and sure hope she can come and see us train."

Her fans in Kobe where she played in the hometown club team INAC Kobe were equally sorry to see her go. Director Tetsuo Kuwayama,72,  of the Daiantei Market in Chuo-ku, Kobe, comments:

"A great pride of Kobe she is. We sure want her back to Kobe, this time as a manager or head coach".
Masanobu Kurita, head of the supporter group "Raion" of the INAC Kobe was shocked to learn of Sawa's retirement as he was "dead certain she would play till Rio".

News Source: Nikkei Shimbun