March 1, 2018

Takuya Nozawa set to kick goals at UOW College

Japanese football star announced as UOW College Ambassador.

Wollongong Wolves star recruit and Japanese football star Takuya Nozawa has today (Thursday 1 March) been officially announced as a UOW College International Student Ambassador.

The announcement comes as the UOW College and Wollongong Wolves Football Club resign their sponsorship agreement for 2018, further cementing strong ties between the football club and education provider.

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Nozawa will be undertaking a 32-week English language program and taking on the position as ambassador for the next six months. This undertaking will continue in conjunction with current UOW College International Student Ambassador and Japanese footballer, Yuzo Tashiro.

UOW College General Manager Julie Renwick said the partnership between the two clubs was a great boost for the College’s profile and community engagement.

“We offer many alternatives to students through our courses and being able to extend our reach through sport and other sectors of our community means more people have more opportunities to further their education. We are extremely happy to have Nozawa at the UOW College,” she said.

Wollongong Wolves FC Chief Executive Officer, Chris Papakosmas, said the opportunity to study at the UOW College had a significant influence on Nozawa’s decision to sign with the team in Wollongong.

“Takuya is here just as much to study with UOW College as he is to play football. After talking to his long term friend and former team mate, Yuzo Tashiro, he was amazed at just how much Yuzo was enjoying his time in Wollongong.”

“Even though Takuya had significant offers to continue his career in Japan, he decided to come to Wollongong. He found UOW was a world class education facility which will help him with his English and give him far more options when he eventually has to hang up his boots.”

Nozawa’s role will involve speaking at UOW College events, welcoming new students and helping the UOW College extend its international reach, as well as being part of the Wolves’ education programs, which includes assisting players to continue their education and have a career outside sport.

“It would be far more difficult, if not highly unlikely for the Wollongong Wolves to be in a position to attract players of Takuya’s calibre, reputation and quality if it wasn’t for the education partnership we have with UOW College,” Mr Papakosmas said.

“We are finding players are just as interested in coming here to Wollongong to study and further their education as they are in continuing to play football.”

Ms Renwick said having Tashiro on board as an International Student Ambassador in 2017 was a huge success for the UOW College.

“Having both Yuzo and Takuya on board in similar roles for us this year will give us far greater opportunities. Using sport to leverage pathways to education is something I know the Wolves are very passionate about, just as we are here at UOW College,” she said.

“This has been a great partnership already and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the next year.”