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Serving As Your Voice of the Nikkei Community Since 1902
Vol. 63, Issue 21 / May 14, 2008
Kevin Sakuda, Kenji Treschuk, keys to Sounders success
By Shihou Sasaki
The North American Post
Kevin Sakuda plays as a right defender, a key of both offense and defense.
Photo by George Holland.
 | While this year will be the last season as the Seattle Sounders, a local professional soccer team, the roles of Kevin Sakuda and Kenji Treschuk will be no different or even more important.
Taken over by the Seattle Sounders FC next year as the fifteenth Major League Soccer franchise, the team keeps focusing on the league schedule to defend its league championship title, and both Japanese American (Nikkei) players were key to team success the previous season.
In what will be Sakuda's sixth season, the 27-year old player is expected to have the experience and leadership to guide the Sounders. This season, he mainly plays as a right defender, one line behind the 25-year-old Treschuk, who plays as a defensive midfielder this year.
"We have a good mix of young guys and veteran guys," Sakuda said of the team.
"We know what the expectations are and what it takes to win at this level."
In this second season for two Nikkei to play on the field together, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer's expectation for both is very high.
"I have high expectation for Kevin as either a veteran or a midfielder, and now he is a very good right defender," he said of Sakuda. "And I am trying to push him very hard because he has big talent."
The coach was also impressed with Treschuk's determination and heart last year as a rookie, and this year will be to improve his soccer skills as well as the theory of the game through gaining experience.
"He still is a young man and he has some room to grow," Schmetzer said. "He is a coacheable kid. He takes direction very well. When we give him instruction, he thinks about it and he tries to do it on the field. I have been impressed with his ability to do it."
In his rookie year, however, Treschuk has already been a key in the team winning the USL First Division Rookie of the Year award as a midfielder. Schmetzer recalled the playoff-semifinal game against the Puerto Rico Islanders in which Treschuck scored a goal after running 70 yards from his defense position to make his team advance to the final.
Kenji Treschuck plays as a defensive half to control the game, keep the ball and work hard for defense.
Photo by Larry Maurer.
 | Treschuk also scored a last-minute goal against the Charleston Battery to tie the season opener on Apr. 19. He said scoring a goal is exciting for most players, but he tries to concentrate on improving his skills each step.
"Putting more pieces on the field and having better play each day," Treschuk said. "Whatever I can do is to help our team, especially doing my defensive work, that's what I do. Whatever we need to do, whatever they ask me...."
Their similarity can also be seen in the family background in having roots from Hiroshima, Japan. Sakuda was born in Fremont, Calf., and Treschuk was born in Honolulu, HI.
Sakuda played 81 consecutive games for the Duke University Blue Devils who won an ACC title in 1999 and made three NCAA tournament appearances. He was also named to U-20 (age under 20) U.S. national team and drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer in 2002.
Treschuk played 81 games for the Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions. Uniquely, he has an oversea experience playing for an amateur top league team in the Netherlands and was invited to train with pro teams including FC Feyenoord.
As of May 12, the Sounders are in seventh place recording one win, one loss and two ties.
"It's always difficult to start on road," Sakuda said on May 7 before the May 10 home-opener against the Portland Timbers. "So it's good to play at home."
While a big transition will occur next year, Sakuda said the team needs to focus on the 2008 season.
Treschuk also follows; winning the championship again.
"I am confident with our team," Treschuk said. "I am confident with the season we are going to have."
Japanese striker Suzuki struggles with new team
The Seattle Sounders finished a 0-0 tie last Saturday in the 2008-season-home opener against the ranked-first Portland Timbers, which signed Japanese forward Takayuki Suzuki for the season.
Suzuki, a former Japanese national team member of the 2002 World Cup, made one goal and one assist on Apr. 26 against the Sounders.
"My teammates are very nice for me to become a part of team," he said in Japanese. "I haven't played many games yet, so I cannot say the difference between U.S. and Japanese soccer. But as long as I am here, I only think of winning championships. I hope I can help the team win the title."
Kei Kinoshita was the first Japanese soccer player in the U.S. professional league. Kinoshita, who played for the Vissel Kobe and other teams in Japan, joined the Seattle Sounders as a player and a youth coach a few years ago.
The Sounders will meet the Timbers on Apr. 7 in Portland.
Japanese sports columnist Kyohei Sugimoto contributed to the report
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