Pick-up Match
Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School vs Ozu High School

The Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League WEST enters its matchday 14 on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September. Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School (Hyogo) take on Ozu High School (Kumamoto) on 24th.

Despite their first-half struggle in their first Premier League campaign in their history, the Kobe side have added up points in the recent four matches with one win, one loss and two draws since matchday 10. In matchday 11, Koryo fought to a 1-1 draw against the same Kobe outfit Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo). While they fell to Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka) in the following match, Kobe Koryo coach TANI Junichi has gained confidence on his team, "Compared to the first half of the season, we've got more stuff we can do," as the team took a two-goal lead midway through the match against Gamba.

Meanwhile, Ozu, who stand in seventh place ahead of Kobe by two points, have also developed their collective strength after the season break. In the last match, the Kumamoto side displayed acute side attacks against Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) and ended up beating them 3-0. But the players did not seem to be satisfied and said, "We are going to win all the remaining matches as well." Coach HIRAOKA Kazunori points out that a key for the weekend match is "to score the opening goal" and "to battle it out tenaciously." The Ozu boss says, "The opening goal is important to pick up the flow of the match, so we will play carefully." He takes great care of how they start the first 10 minutes of the match.

The teams have something in common. Kobe Koryo overcame the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, and Ozu did so after this spring's Kumamoto earthquakes. Kobe Koryo coach Tani says, "If the players from both teams show their hard-working attitude in the Premier League even after the devastating stint, it could stimulate lots of people." Ozu coach Hiraoka has big hopes on his players, "I told them 'Adversity makes men wise.' I want them to develop their humanity by taking challenges as opportunities and, in the coming match, want them to show how they have grown."

Coaches' and Player's Comments

TANI Junichi, Coach (Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School)
We'll try to get three points. Once getting into the second half, my players have learned to read the right time when to defend and when to attack on the pitch. When you can't take the initiative, you've got to sit back and hit on the break to get a goal. That's simple but most important. Our realistic goal is to stay in the league, and it's crucial not to allow any small gap. In the remaining five matches, I'm determined to brace myself along with my players.

TANIGO Hiroto (Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School)
Our strength is to keep running until the end of a match and play tenaciously on both offence and defence. In the match against Ozu, we are expected to react to second balls and go toward goal all the time. Individually, with the home cheers on my back, I will try to keep running until the very end of the match to win. As the season got into the second half, I got used to the pace that we can experience only in the Premier League has. We will try to get back on track.

HIRAOKA Kazunori, Coach (Ozu High School)
I'm happy to play a serious match every week. It's important for us to manage the whole 90 minutes in the weekend match. It is ideal to go as planned: the starting squad build the match in our favour, substitutes change the course of the match and the last subbed-in player finishes it off. We won the last match in shape and I want to maintain the momentum.

Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School vs Ozu High School
Date: Sat. 24 September (kick-off 11:00)
Venue: Miki Sogo Bosai Koen Hyogo
Directions: Take Shinki Zone Bus Bosai Koen Line from "Midorigaoka Station" of Kobe Railway Ao Line and get off at "Bosai Koenmae."

Premier League WEST Matchday 14

9/24
11:00   Nagoya Grampus U18 vs Oita Trinita U-18 (Toyota Sports Centre)
15:00   Vissel Kobe U-18 vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Ibukinomori Stadium)
18:00   Cerezo Osaka U-18 vs Higashi Fukuoka High School (Cerezo Osaka Maishima Ground)
9/25
17:00   Kyoto Sanga F.C U-18 vs Gamba Osaka Youth (Kyoto Sanga F.C. Higashijoyo ground)

Fourth-placed Vissel Kobe U-18 (Hyogo) welcome Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima). Kobe are the only team who have beaten Hiroshima this season. It's a must-see how the contest will end up.

A head-to-head contest between second-placed Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka) and third-placed Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) is also a match that you shouldn't miss. As Cerezo have sent six players to the U-16 Japan National Team, who are working hard in the AFC U-16 Championship, their integrated strength is to be tried out.

Nagoya Grampus U18 (Aichi) and Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) have settled for lower places, but the difference between bottom-placed Oita and six-placed Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kyoto) is just four points. The winner of the match will have a chance to put pressure on the teams at the middle of the table.

Kyoto face Gamba Osaka Youth, who have got the momentum with a win over Cerezo in the Osaka derby. The key for the Kyoto side is to add points in a tenacious manner.

JFA-TV (Japanese Version Only)

Highlights from Matchday 13

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