After a highly-successful first season where she earned the team’s MVP award at the end of season awards banquet, AFC Ann Arbor are excited to announce Mami Yamaguchi will be returning with the club in 2020. Yamaguchi will serve as a player/coach for the club’s second campaign and joins Boyzzz Khumalo on the coaching staff. This will be the first club coaching job at this level for Yamaguchi. She currently serves as an academy coach for Michigan Wolves-Hawks and has since 2018. In addition, Yamaguchi also has experience as a volunteer assistant coach for Florida State in 2015-16.
As is well known by fans of The Mighty Oak, Yamaguchi’s playing career has been nothing short of spectacular. Yamaguchi has represented Japan in eighteen matches, scoring eight goals in the process, and helping ensure qualification for the 2011 Women’s World Cup; a tournament that Japan would go on to win. Prior to her exploits on the national level she also won the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2007 with Florida State as the best women’s collegiate player in the nation. She would eventually make the jump to the professional level where she spent time with Umea IK in Sweden making a UEFA Champions League Final in 2008.
“I’m excited to become part of the coaching staff for next season,” Yamaguchi said. She noted though that while not properly a coach, she was doing plenty of teaching last season as well as a player. “I was providing advice and instructing and demonstrating to young players at practice/games.” Highly regarded by all involved with the club, players have already proven eager to learn under Yamaguchi’s tutelage.
Boyzzz Khumalo expressed excitement about being able to have Yamaguchi back as both a player and coach. “I think Mami is a very intelligent player. She does her talking by playing on the field,” Khumalo would say, “I know some of the girls look up to her. I think she’s a good asset to the team and the club because she’s very knowledgeable about the game.” Yamaguchi, too, is looking forward to working with Khumalo as she said, “It is neat to have someone who has a similar background, and already has rich coaching experience and knowledge of the game.” She also said that she has had a couple chances to talk to Khumalo and has learned much about life and sport from the new head coach.
While she acknowledged that there is still plenty of time from now till the start of the season, there is still work to be done even this far out. “It probably starts helping to recruit players in offseason, and discussing with other coaching staff how to build the team.” There is also the always-present emphasis on not just good players but good people: “For this coming season, I expect to see the team/players not just on the field but also off of the field.”
Yamaguchi has fond memories of the first season of the women’s side’s existence. She told AFCAA that she felt plenty of support from the club and community alike – especially including the fans. While only a moderately brief season, she said that team chemistry around the team was “outstanding” and elaborated saying, “Everyone was taking care of each other, and we all had great experiences.”
With it being the first season, there were many unpredictable aspects of the year. Now, with season two for the women on the horizon, those can be translated into learning experiences and lead to a greater understanding of what to expect throughout this coming season. “We learned many things from last season and now, we can actually learn from our own experience, improve, and have positive plans.” Yamaguchi closed by saying that she is positive in the club continuing to evolve and build up in a positive manner, and she is very excited to return to the club. “It is a new adventure for me and I can’t wait to kick start!”