International footballer Arata Izumi, who is currently associated with Pune FC and plays as a midfielder intends to organisz a charity match between his club and Salgaoncar for tsunami victims of Japan those who lost their shelters and family. “Man of Steel” awardee Izumi, who is originally from Japan, is determined and wants to help the people who have been affected by the worst natural catastrophe in the history of The Island Nation. 

“The idea behind organizing this match is because both the sides have lot of Japanese footballer, and would be a very good venture. Being Japanese and more importantly a human being, I thought that it is my prime duty to help people in distress,” said the emotional footballer, whose family members are safe after the disastrous earthquake that hit Japan. Izumi hails from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, located in the south-west region of Japan that was not affected by the calamity.

Arata, the football prodigy from Japan, always aspired to become a football player. He never thought of anything else apart from football. “My passion of football made me leave my job from Mitsubishi motors. I had struggled a lot in the past to reach where I am now. It has been four-and-half-years that I have been playing football in India. So I thought football would be the perfect machinery for me to pay back the society and hence I thought of the charity match,” said the footballer, who played for clubs like Japan Soccer College, Albirex Singapore, Mitsubishi Mizushmi FC, Kingfisher East Bengal and Mahindra United.

Will love to play for India

Arata wants to play for Indian national team and is willing to submit his Japanese Passport so that he can play for Indian Team. “I haven’t yet submitted my passport but I am ready to do it once I get the confirmation from the authorities concerned,” said the Pune FC midfielder.

He feels that after coming to India lot of goods things happened to him. But the best thing that happened to him was his wedding to Sweta Manerikar, whom he knew professionally.  She was a freelancing physiotherapist with Pune F C.  “I have known her for quite sometime before getting married to her. Though she was a freelancer with Pune FC, I had known her through a common friend. Sweta has always been very supportive and had helped me a lot during my injury. And she is also a very good cook and keeps me fit in everywhere,” said the midfielder.

He is really looking forward for the charity match to be played on May 16. He wants people to come forward for the noble cause. “I want the players and the crowd to completely enjoy the match. I want it to be a fun-filled day of good football for a noble cause. Preparations are on from a lot of people,” added Arata.

The collected amount shall be transferred to Japan Red Cross which has already taken an initiative to help the victims. The money would only be accepted by cheque. Donors could also deposit money in this account.

Those who look to come forward for this noble cause may donate on the following account numbers.

Account number: 17420100009486
Payee name: Sweta Manerikar.
Bank of Baroda,
Branch: Ashok Nagar Branch, Pune, India.

Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Account Number.: 8047670 (Ordinary Account)
Name of Branch: Ginza
SWIFT Code: SMBC JP JT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN.

By Sanjeeb Sahoo