The 15th All Japan Seniors (over 60s) Football Tournament and the Senior (over 70s) Football Festival were held in Yūbari, Hokkaido on Saturday 30 May. The players played the 1st Sec. of the first round on the day.

16 selected teams from across the country participate in this tournament to decide the strongest team among the over-60s generation. Some teams are eager to win, just as IKI Yoji from Miyagi Phoenix Soccer Club commented: ‘more than 60 players usually join our practice session on every Thursdays and our squad consists of those who really focus on winning.’ Other teams are a little more relaxed. OMAE Kinya from Wakayama Kyuyu Club noted: ‘in the Kansai qualifying round, luckily we happened to play well enough to get here.’ Although each team has a different aim – winning the championship or just focusing on winning one game, once the tournament started, all the players started to show their passion on the pitch.

The teams are divided into four groups to play the first round. The local team, Muroran Senior 60 Soccer Club(Hokkaido), beat O-60 Niigata Shijukara O-60 (Niigata) 3-1, topping Group A over Hiroshima Squads 60 (Hiroshima) and(LAZOS KOGA F.C/Ibaraki), who both earned one point by drawing the game.

In Group B, there were some exciting, close matches. 60 Akita Squads (Akita) beat Athletic Club Chiba (Chiba) 1-0, who won the championship in 2010. The following match between　Wakayama Kyuyu Club and Mie Squads V (Mie) was also thrilling. Mie Squads V led the game at 2-1 towards the end of the game, but in the last two minutes, OMAE Shiro from Wakayama scored the equaliser and the match ended in a draw.

Yokosuka Senior Football Club (Kanagawa), for which the former Japan international player OKUDERA Yasuhiko plays, won the match against Kochi Showa OB Club(Kochi), by scoring a goal in both the first and the second half. They are sitting in first place in Group C by goal difference, leading Miyagi Phoenix Soccer Club, who beat Shinshu Wakuwaku Football Club (Nagano) 1-0.

In group D, Hyogo Senior 60 Squads (Hyogo), who came in third last year, won the game against Fukuoka Rokujugara Football Club(Fukuoka). Shizuoka Squads (Shizuoka) swept to victory 3-0 against a local team SUPER GOAL 3 (Hokkaido).

The 2nd and 3rd Sec. of the first round will be held on the second day of the tournament. Who will be the semi-finalists?

Players' Comments

KAWAUCHI Seiji (LAZOS KOGA F.C/Ibaraki)
I know the national championship can be very tough, as the speed and the stamina of the opponents tend to be better. We have more than 100 players, who are over 40 years old, in our team, and play a lot of practice games. I usually play against younger players, which has really strengthened me physically. The reason I still play football is because I enjoy it. I enjoy watching it or teaching it, not to mention passing the ball around or defending against opponents. I cannot imagine a life without football.

SHIMODA Toshiaki (Wakayama Kyuyu Club)
Our team consists of players, who played in the Wakayama National Sports Festival of Japan in 1971. We usually live in various areas and have a practice session once a month. There are some players over 70 years old. As this is our first national football championship, we might be the weakest among the participating teams. However, we have stronger spirits to try hard. All my teammates love football, and will be happy to kick the ball, even though we can’t run too far. I look forward to drinking with my friends after the game.

IKI Yoji (Miyagi Phoenix Soccer Club)
I came here three years in a row. As I always can’t make to the second round, my aim this year is to stay until the last day of the tournament. When I first started playing football again at the age of 60, I focused on having fun. However, after hearing about this this tournament, we set our mind on success. I think I have become healthier since I started to try harder. Even though I’m reluctant to do some stretches, I can enjoy them with my teammates. I picked up some injuries first, but I got gradually stronger. I’m very thankful that I play football.

AOYAMA Seiichi (SUPER GOAL 3)
I can play more focused and fully engaged in this tournament. It’s the hardest championship, but I enjoy it most. Although I am taking part in it for the third consecutive year, I haven’t won a single match yet. So I strongly feel I must win this year. As I need to stay healthy to continue playing well, I have to refrain from drinking during the season until October. Having said that, other friends of mine tend to drink! I have kept practicing at least once a week since graduating from university, so that I can stay fit and avoid any injuries; I love football that much.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

The 15th All Japan Seniors (over 60s) Football Tournament

Date: Sat. 30 May - Mon. 1 June 2015
Venue: Sun-Green Sport Village (Yubari Heiwa Sport Park)
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