PLAYER PROFILE - Takuya IWATA
Takuya Iwata started life at Kiwitea Street with Central United in 2011 as a striker following a goal-laden season in Queensland football before trying his luck with Auckland City FC.
Iwata, like many players before him at the club, was converted from an attacking player into a defender where the focus on possession football and getting forward to help the attack at the right times brought the best out of him.
Iwata rates one of his most unique experiences as facing the Japan national team at Cessnock, New South Wales, for the Navy Blues on January 4, 2015.
His favourite player of all time is former AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini but locally he opts for Japanese compatriot Kazuyoshi Miura as his favourite local.
Not known for his high scoring rate, Iwata shares that its his desire to score a few more goals this season.
Softly spoken, polite but with an understated sense of humour, Iwata says signing for Auckland City FC was the best thing he has ever done in football.
Iwata returned to first team duty at the age of 39 and made his 140th appearance for the club in the recent 4-0 away win over Takapuna AFC on Saturday 11 June 2022.
Thursday 11 August 2022, Nikao Sokattak, Ngahue, 3.00pm NZDT
Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | AC | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 63 | 11 | 58 |
2 | ![]() | BU | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 44 | 21 | 38 |
3 | ![]() | AU | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 22 | 37 |
4 | ![]() | MU | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 45 | 17 | 36 |
5 | ![]() | HW | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 24 | 31 |
6 | ![]() | WS | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 37 | 25 |
7 | ![]() | MA | 19 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 22 |
8 | ![]() | BO | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 29 | 34 | 20 |
9 | ![]() | ES | 19 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 18 |
10 | ![]() | TK | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 32 | 17 |
11 | ![]() | NS | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 81 | 7 |
12 | ![]() | WU | 18 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 53 | 5 |