A crestfallen expression when talking about this last season at Sporting de Charleroi, Ryota Morioka’s face only relaxes when he recounts his best years in Zèbre. At the end of his contract, the man who arrived during the winter of 2019 at Mambourg is preparing to close the most voluminous chapter of his career on a positive note, with a new tenure and collectively successful Playdowns. An opinion that he does not share at all. For him, it is above all the end of an ordeal…
Ryota Morioka, how are you approaching this last match with Sporting?
It will be a match like any other for me. In my previous clubs, I never really felt this nostalgia when leaving. Maybe I’ll be a little emotional after the meeting, but that’s not really my style. Especially since physically and mentally, the season was difficult. I would have liked to bring more to the team and help them win points. For me, it will just be the last match of the season…
Do you expect signs of affection from the public? You have participated in Playdowns, is that not a departure through the back door?
Maybe, but it’s the worst season since I arrived in Charleroi. Above all, I want to ask for forgiveness. I am disappointed not to have been able to display a better physical level. The coach’s choices? No, they depend on my physical form, which has not been good. If I had been fit, I would have played more. I don’t blame anyone, it’s just the injuries that handicapped me.
In four and a half years, you have experienced the two cycles of Felice Mazzù, as well as passages by Karim Belhocine, Edward Still and now Rik De Mil. Which philosophy best suited your qualities?
They are very different philosophies. It’s difficult to answer, because it all depends on my physical condition. Under Belhocine, I felt very good, I didn’t have all this pain. The team was performing well and we achieved excellent results. Then Edward arrived and it was difficult for me to maintain my form.
What were your best moments in Charleroi?
Without hesitation, it was the 2019-2020 season with Karim Belhocine. This is where we got our best ranking, with this third place. There were the results and the atmosphere.
A key moment?
The appearance of Covid while we were in the middle of our best exercise. If the competition had not been interrupted, we might not have finished third but rather second or even first. We will never know, but I have the feeling that we could have done even better (Editor’s note: they had just beaten Ghent, second, just before the end of the classic phase), there was still the playoffs to play. Perhaps we would also have slowed down, but our momentum was cut short, even though the momentum was positive…
There is also your repositioning from attacking to defensive midfielder…
Yes, it’s true. It was a big change for me. I remember this match in Mechelen (November 3, 2019). Diandy was injured just before the break. During halftime, Belhocine announced that Shamar Nicholson was replacing him. I was wondering: but who will play in front of the defense? When I realized it was me, I was surprised. I absolutely didn’t expect it (he laughs). I had never even trained in this position. It changed my style of play.
Your worst moment?
There is not one specific one, but rather an accumulation with all these injuries. When you get hurt once, twice or three times, you can accept it. But four, five, six or ten times, it’s hard to live with.
What was your reaction when you realized that your contract would not be renewed?
I had an agreement with the club, but I don’t know if I can talk about it… I accepted the management’s decision. I myself was not satisfied with my season and I am not very young anymore (33 years old). If I had an excellent season, with significant playing time, I would have been frustrated. But this is understandable.
Have you made a decision about your future?
I would like to stay in Europe, but I realize that my physical condition is not ideal for pursuing my career. I can’t play without pain or injury. I definitely don’t want to see a second season like this. The other possibility would be to return to Japan to find my physical trainer, who would allow me to recover all my physical abilities. I would then play in a Japanese club. I’m torn between these two options. I would like to get back together with my trainer but also live in Europe.
Some agree at the end of their career to move to D2. Could this be your case?
It’s not impossible, it would depend on the sporting project. A club that aims to move up to D1 could be interesting. But I haven’t made a decision yet…
Will you still come to Mambourg to support the Zebras?
Maybe once, but watching football is not my thing.
