Haruto Morita, the goal-scoring revelation of the Donosti Cup 2023
With 16 goals, the Japanese player made history by becoming the first Japanese player to top the tournament's scoring charts.
Haruto Morita, a 16-year-old Japanese player, currently resides in San Sebastian, where he combines his academic training with his passion for soccer. Wakatake's U15 team, led by Morita, had a remarkable performance in the tournament, winning all the matches in the group stage and reaching the semifinals. Although they fell at the gates of the final at the Reale Arena against a great Antiguoko, Haruto's performance did not go unnoticed. He stood out as the top scorer of the tournament, beating more than 15,000 participants. With a staggering ratio of 2.29 goals per game, he scored a total of 16 goals in 7 matches. His prowess on the field and his ability to find the net make him a truly promising player.
Congratulations, Haruto, on your outstanding performance in the Donosti Cup 2023. How does it feel to be the tournament's top scorer?
Two years ago I was the second top scorer of the tournament, and in the previous edition I finished in the fifth position of top scorers, so I wanted to be the first this year. And in the end, I got it, not only because of my work but because of the work of the whole team. I was very happy to be part of Wakatake and as a striker, being the top scorer is the greatest joy for me.
What do you think was the key to your team's outstanding performance in the tournament?
A big part of the key to success is thanks to the formative development that both myself and my teammates are experiencing in Spain this season, as we have the opportunity to learn and train every day in the best youth academies in Spanish soccer. The Donosti Cup is the ideal scenario at the end of the season to come together and demonstrate on the field everything we have improved during the season in our immersive experiences in Spain.
Aside from success on the field, how do you manage to combine your studies with soccer?
I know that to fulfill my dream in the world of soccer, fulfilling the educational part is very important as well. Therefore, I try to make the most of the time I have between school and training to study and organize myself on weekends to always have time to study and improve my Spanish.
Do you have any player or team that inspires you in your soccer career?
I like Mbappe for his characteristics as a player, as he has a lot of speed, technique, and strength, but above all, he scores a lot of goals. As for teams, I like teams that have a lot of offensive capacity, both La Liga teams in Spain and Manchester City in England.
What are your future goals?
My dream is to become the top scorer in the Champions League.
