This article is part of an introduction to the policies and activities of each Prefectural Football Association divided into 12 categories: ‘Seniors’, ‘Class 1’, ‘Class 2’, ‘Class 3’, ‘Class 4’, ‘Kids’, ‘Women’, ‘Futsal’, ‘Beach Soccer’, ‘Referees Committee’, ‘Facilities Committee (Environmental Maintenance)’ and ‘Technical Committee’. We hope you read this article through and become familiar with the various activities held across the country.
This is fourth report introducing activities of Class 1.

*This article has been published in ‘REGIONAL NEWS‘ in the May issue of JFA news.

Activities of ‘Class 1’ (Saga Football Association)

ISHIKUMA Matsunobu, Chairman of Saga Prefectural Football Association

‘For more enjoyment in playing senior football ’

On 13 April, a new season of this year has started. In the rain from previous night, few staff worked on preparing the pitch and organized the championship.

As a number of the soccer ground is limited in Saga prefecture, it was difficult to secure the ground for the game. We had to organize first round match on the clay court, the players fought hard in the rain as they get all muddied up. We wanted to set up a good environment for the players to demonstrate the outcome of what they’ve been training every day.

Also, we organizing staff, have something we’d like to share. For enjoy playing football, it is absolutely indispensable for all the players, referees and organizing committee to get together, respect and recognize each other. This year at the beginning of this fiscal year, we made a plan of referee booking with the referees committee including its chairman and class 1organizing committee staff. I am enormously impressed with the referee committee to allocate limited number of eligible referees for the championship organized by Senior Football Association. But there were few players who used violent language to the referees and showed their complaint after the game. Every time I see the scene like this, I just want them to realize how many people are involved in organizing this event and hope they learn to behave themselves, acquire the basic business manner for enjoying football.

Today, Senior Football Association is considering to create the Middle League (interim name) for players 35 years old or above as a new step. In Saga prefecture, the players 35 or over have few chances of taking part in the game until they reach 40, the age eligible for taking part in senior championship (the players for over 40) and they tend to quit playing soccer before that. The aim of creating the Middle League is to increase playing opportunities of these players and numbers of registered players. But there are something still remains to be seen such as can we secure enough teams, what criteria is required for securing the team and can we secure the soccer ground. The organizing committee is eager to come up with a new idea of promoting the players of 35 to 40 years old for play longer period of time.