Masashi Wada To Be A "Huge Piece" For Portland Hearts of Pine
"He understands the game, probably sometimes faster than some of the other guys."
Portland Hearts of Pine know they have something special in Masashi Wada.
The 28-year-old attacker arrived in Portland after an extensive career in his native Japan, where he played in various levels of the J League. He has shown good movement and spatial awareness during his brief time in the United States.
In an early sign of his potential, he attempted an audacious heel flick in his second game with Hearts.
Hearts goalkeeper coach Yuta Nomura, also Japanese, helped bring Wada to Maine, believing he would do well in USL League One.
“I think his feet are unreal and he’s got the technical fundamentals,” Nomura said. “We have great athletes and players, but we needed to have a true number 10, and I think Masashi can provide that.”
Wada has looked more comfortable with each passing week. On Sunday, he scored Hearts’ first-ever goal at Fitzpatrick Stadium by being in the right spot. The strike brought the game back to level terms.
Wada had another look soon after, but the Knoxville goalkeeper made a save. The game ultimately ended 1-1.
“This is so exciting,” Wada said. “It’s such a big stadium. I’m glad to score the first goal in this stadium. I felt so good. I could have had one more goal in the first half, but it’s okay.”
When asked about Wada’s abilities, head coach Bobby Murphy reflected on a conference he attended a few years ago. Here, a representative from the Japanese Football Association (JFA) spoke about a shift made in the early 2000s.
“[The JFA] recognized they weren't going to be able to compete with the rest of the world physically,” Murphy said. “So they had to develop smarter, more technical, quick-thinking players to compete on a global stage.
“I think [Wada] embodies so many of those qualities. Physically, he's not overly imposing, but his feet are unbelievable. His brain is quick. He understands the game, probably sometimes faster than some of the other guys, so it's just a matter of him getting fully integrated.”
Wada’s experience is also valuable to Hearts, which has one of the youngest rosters in the league. The midfielder has played in over 100 professional games.
“He brings that experience and calmness on the ball,” Nomura said. “Players can now find him anytime, and then they know that the ball is going to come back to you or be played into a good spot.”
Of course, on-field integration is just part of the puzzle. Wada must also become familiar with a new country, though his dad did live in New York for some time.
“Yuta deserves a huge amount of credit for helping and being the one to translate and help him learn the lay of the land,” Murphy said.
“I think the Japanese restaurants in Portland deserve a huge amount of credit for making him feel at home. That's so important. You get homesick at times, and the food is up to the standards of where he's from, so that makes a huge difference.”
The transition has been smooth, with Wada saying the Hearts locker room is very tight-knit. Playing in front of a rambunctious home crowd of nearly 6,000 fans also makes a difference.
“This is like a family,” Wada explained.
Of course, it’s still early for Hearts, who are building chemistry and determining the best starting lineup.
“I think Masashi is going to be a huge piece for us when people figure out how to use him,” Murphy said. “He's kind of quiet. You almost forget he's there at times, but he's so talented that we just have to keep giving him the ball. Just make a conscious choice to give it to him, and then he'll bring other people into the game.”