The 2020 Levain Cup’s New Hero award, a prize given to players under the age of 21, has gone to Cerezo Osaka defender Ayumu Seko, the J.League announced on 2 November.
Seko played a total of four matches in the cup, three times in the group stage and once in the quarterfinals. The 20-year-old centre-back, who has also established himself as a mainstay in the league, was recognised for the award based on his development throughout this year’s competition.
“I thought it was a certainty that the award would go to a player up front (like a forward), so getting this has given me a lot of confidence as a defender,” Seko said in the online presentation. “I want to be a player who puts defending first and can also score when needed.”
Keito Nakamura won last season’s award while playing for Gamba Osaka.
The cup final will be contested by Kashiwa Reysol and FC Tokyo on 7 November.
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