The defending Premier Development League Western Conference Champion Kitsap Pumas have signed 6’0” 165-pound Japanese forward Hiroki Kobayashi.
Kobayashi, who was born in Okazaki, Japan, moved to New York at the age of fourteen. However his passion for the game dates back much further.
“I started playing soccer when I was seven years old,” Kobayashi recalled. “I lived in an apartment affiliated with my dad’s company so all of his coworkers and their families lived with us as well. I remember some of the other kids all joined a local soccer team so of course I wanted to join as well. From then on I just wanted to keep getting better so I could play at the highest level possible.”
As a result of his outstanding play with Everton FC Westchester in the United States Soccer Development Academy, Kobayashi decided to attend the prestigious Harvard University.
“When I was first getting recruited I was still pretty new to America so I did not know too much about the whole process but I did know about Harvard,” Kobayashi recalled. “I was very happy to have the chance to attend a school where I could both play soccer at a high level and pursue a top education. I loved my entire experience at Harvard from my classes to the community to the coaching staff.”
Kobayashi wasted no time in acclimating to his new environment and even earned Ivy League rookie of the week honors his freshman year for his game-winning goal against Dartmouth. Throughout his four year career Kobayashi’s skill, intelligence and speed allowed him to be a constant threat to every defense he faced.
In total Kobayashi scored seven goals and had four assists playing for Harvard.
Following the conclusion of his collegiate soccer career and his imminent graduation, Kobayashi was forced to decide if he would continue pursuing his dream to be a professional soccer player or rather use his degree in applied mathematics to enter the workforce.
After a lot of thought Kobayashi elected to continue pursuing his childhood dream which brought him to the recent Seattle Sounders 2 combine. While trying out for Sounders 2, a new USL-Pro team, Kobayashi was also scouted by Head Coach of the Pumas Cameron MacDonald.
“Keith and I stumbled across Hiroki by chance when were taking in a Sounders 2 preseason game. He is someone who is definitely going to play the style of soccer we are looking for this summer. He’s a real live wire and the fans should be excited to watch him play.”
Although Kobayashi did not plan on signing for Kitsap when he flew across the country to pursue his dream, he wasted no time in accepting coach MacDonald’s offer to sign with the Pumas.
“When Seattle decided not to sign me I was pretty disappointed,” Kobayashi recalled. “However I am so excited and happy that coach MacDonald saw me as a player that can contribute to this great club.”
Even though Kobayashi has already proved to be a very skilled player at the collegiate level, his primary focus is now proving his talent will translate to the professional level by contributing to the continued success of the Pumas.
“I know the Pumas already went to the PDL National Final last season, but I really want to work hard and do my part to help make a difference so that we can win it all this season,” Kobayashi said.
Although this is a huge step in his development as a professional, Kobayashi remained humble in his acceptance of this new challenge.
“I cannot even name all the people I would like to thank for supporting me and guiding me over the years,” Kobayashi said. “Everyone from my teammates to coaches to family and friends have all helped me to get to this point. I also would like to thank coach MacDonald and the entire Pumas staff for believing me and giving me this opportunity. I cannot wait to get started.”
