Kimito Fritz, a multidisciplinary studies junior from Tokyo, Japan, is a right back and holding midfielder for the UTRGV Men’s Soccer Team (3-6-2, 1-2-1 WAC). In the Vaqueros’ first conference victory of the season on Oct. 13, Fritz totaled two assists in the match en route to a 5-1 UTRGV win over the Air Force Academy at the Soccer and Track & Field Complex on the Edinburg campus.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: “I like to eat, I like to cook [and] I like to listen to music.”
Q: Who or what got you started in soccer?
A: “My oldest brother. He is 12 years older than me and he plays soccer. I watched his soccer [games] and that’s why I started to play soccer.”
Q: Who is your biggest inspiration or role model?
A: “When I was young, I really loved Cristiano Ronaldo. But now, I play defense, so [Dani] Carvajal from Real Madrid.”
Q: Who is your favorite player or club?
A: “Real Madrid, and my favorite player is Carvajal.”
Q:What practice drills help you the most in your position on the team?
A: “Finishing [drills]. Coach gives us some options and we play with those options and make chances so we can use it in the games. That’s helped me improve in practice.”
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
A: “J-Pop. Sometimes I listen [to] rap and sometimes my teammates teach me some Spanish music.”
Q: Which shows or movies do you like to watch?
A: “I love ‘Star Wars.’”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: “I like to … drive, and I like to do surfing sometimes.”
Q: What is your biggest motivation?
A: “My family. They always support me and help me. So, I want to give [them] a good result and I want to pay it back to them.”
Q: What do you like the most about UTRGV?
A: “People. People [are] nice. … I’m from Japan, I can’t speak really good English. … My teammates, my coach, professors–everyone helped me a lot. That’s [my] favorite part about UTRGV.”
Q: What are your biggest goals?
A: “For now, my goal is [to be a] professional soccer player.”
–Compiled by Ali Halloum
