- Mangaka : Arakawa, Naoshi (Story and Art)
- Publisher : Kodansha Comic
- Genre : Romance, School, Shounen, Sports
- Published : September 2020 - Ongoing
Sayonara Football Introduction (No Spoilers)
14-year-old Nozomi Onda has only one thing, and one thing only on her mind, and that is playing beautiful football. However, she is facing a problem where she couldn’t join the official matches as she doesn’t possess the physical prowess that most boys have no matter how skillful she is. When a boy from her past confronts her on the street, she decides she had to enter the battle no matter the consequences.
Contains Spoilers
Discussion Time
Football is one of the intense sports where players can build their stamina, muscles, and tone every part of their body. Introducing Sayonara Football, a story where Onda has a huge passion for football just like Endou Mamoru from Inazuma Eleven, excellent anime series by the way.
The artwork is fantastic in a way that you can see how the football players’ hard work through the stains drawn on their uniforms and jerseys and the flow of the plays. The beautiful sportsmanship and rivalry between characters as they give their all.
1. Never Give Up
As Onda grows along with others in the football team. She starts to realize the boys are getting more robust in terms of physical prowess and left her behind with an obstacle between them. Don’t get us wrong, Onda has a football talent. Her instinct is something not to be treated lightly, but their football coach didn’t enlist her to be part of the official team for the upcoming competition just because she is a girl.
That premise is considered sexist, but that is what the story is focusing on, and Onda’s personalities and determination inspire readers of how she is trying to overcome it by proofing she can win against them. That is why she decides to take someone’s place and disguised herself as the victim. Long story short, it is like the movie called “She’s The Man”. This is the battle of the sexes.
2. Artwork
Arakawa went all-in when it comes to the artwork of this manga. The surroundings, characters, motion blurs, movements, effects, expression, and the contrast, brought so much life and intensity to the readers, and it is hard to believe that all these actions were brought to the table in bulk. Some scenes can be visually confusing, but we can’t help but feel that there is beauty that lies within them.
3. Characters
The Onda, Takei, and Yamada had been on the same team for quite a long time, and their teamwork is smooth. The characters possess likable personalities and Takei, and Yamada had a crush on Onda. But…Onda has someone else in mind, so guess we will find out in the later volume.
Takei and Yamada are scared to have Onda on their team, not because of her skill as a football player but her safety. It is true that to some extent, that they are just looking out for her, but she was the one who could beat them in football at the beginning of the chapter, so why not?
1. Cliché
Yes, the story is about a female protagonist going up against the stereotypical mindset that girls shouldn’t play male sports. This theme is quite common, and you sometimes can find them any other stories like Mulan, for example. So this theme may not be attractive to some readers.
Final Thoughts
Sayonara Football is enjoyable to read. The artwork brings out the competitive air from likable characters. The story of how Onda faces and battles against the boys through football gives a big inspiration to the readers to create their fate rather than others and the passion and love she carried for football. There is also a little hint of romance from Takei and Yamada, Onda’s teammates, as they have a crush on Onda and we can’t wait to see who is going to be with Onda. On the other hand, the story is a bit cliché and maybe not suitable for some readers regarding a female protagonist proofing that girls can play football as well as the boys.
Remember, you are the only one who can change yourself for the better for yourself and everyone around you, but please be considerate toward others and treat them with respect just as the way you want them to treat you. We want a clean game, after all, got it? It doesn’t really matter whether what sex you are. What matters is that you can get things done and not to cause harm to others.
Author: Nobodies17