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Iwata family welcome baby girl

Words: ACFC Media

Tuesday 6 December 2016

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Auckland City FC's Takuya Iwata has become a father for the first time after his wife, Yu, gave birth to a girl this morning.

Yu Iwata gave birth on Tuesday morning, a week after the 33-year-old defender departed New Zealand for his fourth consecutive FIFA Club World Cup.

Iwata said the decision to come to the FIFA Club World Cup rather than be present for the birth was one arrived at in close consultation with Yu.

"When I am training or on the pitch I am concentrated totally on football.

"Only when I am away from that environment do my thoughts turn to Yu and the baby but it is difficult.

"Yu's mum is with her and we are in touch every single day but from here I can't do anything.

"Before I left, Yu gave me a necklace and I wear it everyday to feel close to her and our baby," he said.

CONGRATULATIONS Takuya and Yu Iwata on your brand new baby girl born today. #StrengthinUnity #NavyBlues love from everyone at Kiwitea St..! pic.twitter.com/FhXLH5cv19
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) December 5, 2016

@AucklandCity_FC @ACFCsupporters @Clayton_Lewis10 @CentralUtd_FC @NZ_Football @AuckFootballFed @IvanVicelich @RamonTribulietx Congrats!
— Alonso Martens (@JEDIEV11) December 5, 2016

Iwata's news means two players in the Navy Blues have become fathers this year with Iwata now joining fellow defender Darren White with that honour.

And while asking White for advice may shortly become a pressing need for Iwata, he says the first priority will be choosing a name with Yu for his daughter.

"We have a list of names 'Lenka', 'Karen' or 'Ana'. We're all very excited but Yu's mother is calm for all of us and looks after Yu.

"Everyone at Auckland City FC asks me how the baby and Yu are so it is a very happy time for us and the support we have from the club is great," he said.

With the FIFA Club World Cup playoff with Kashima Antlers now just two days away, Iwata says the J.League champions are a tough nut to crack for the Auckland City FC amateurs.

Iwata knows all about how tough the J.League winners are having played Sanfrecce Hiroshima twice in the Club World Cup playoffs in 2012 and 2015. He also played against the Japan national team for the Navy Blues in a friendly prior to the Asian Cup.

"Kashima beating Urawa Red Diamonds was a big shock. Urawa won the league by more than 20 points over Kashima so to see the result was a surprise to everyone in football here.

"They play a very physical game, similar to what we saw with SC Sagamihara in our friendly game on December 2.

"We have to work hard and we have to get the right result this year," he said.

No matter what happens on Thursday night at the Yokohama International Stadium one result Iwata is happy about is the birth of his daughter.

But Iwata says his wife Yu took some convincing before allowing him to get on a plane for Japan but he senses a power shift taking place as a result.

"Yu and I have been saving money for a long time to build a family so in three years she has been cutting my hair.

"I haven't been to a barber or hairdresser for a long time. But what I don't understand now is she has bought an iPhone 7," he joked.

Auckland City FC play Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 on Thursday 8 December.

The match kicks off at 7.30pm local/11.30pm NZST.

Ends

Extra Information

Clubrooms open for Club World Cup

Auckland City FC will open its Kiwitea Street clubrooms for broadcast of the match from Yokohama. Doors open at 11pm and entry to the venue is free.

Match Details
FIFA Club World Cup Playoff
Thursday 8 December, 2016
Kashima Antlers v Auckland City FC
Yokohama International Stadium, Japan
Kick-off: 7.30pm local / 11.30pm NZST
Live Sky Sport