The 16th All Japan Seniors (over 60s) football tournament and the Senior (over 70s) football festival have kicked off with the first-round games played on 4 June in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture.

In the over-60-year-old category, heated battles were witnessed by the audience. In Group A, Miyagi Phoenix Soccer Club (Tohoku 2/Miyagi) crushed FC Nobeoka (Kyushu 2/Miyazaki) 3-0 and took the first place in the standings. Miyagi exceeded Muroran Senior 60 Soccer Club (Hokkaido 1), who defeated Shinshu Wakuwaku Soccer Club (Host/Nagano), in goal differential.

Group B is a tough group, in which the reigning champion Hyogo Senior 60 Selection (Kansai/Hyogo) and Tokyo Selection (Lazos 2011) (Kanto 1/Tokyo), who captured the title in the 14th edition of the tourney, are allocated. Hyogo Senior 60 cruised past Tottori Senior SC 60 (Chugoku 2/Tottori) 3-0. Tokyo Selection (Lazos2011) had taken a trip to Kochi and played an exhibition against Kochi Showa OB Club (Shikoku 2/Kochi) before this tournament. The two clubs faced against each other this time in Matsumoto and Tokyo edged Kochi 1-0. After the game, the two sides praised with each other and wished their opponents luck for the remainder of their tournament.

In Group C, Hiroshima Selection 60 (Chugoku 1/Hiroshima) took the first place in the standings. They edged Aichi Selection (Tokai/Aichi) 1-0 and got the momentum going in the second match. Tokushima Kabarosu Senior 60 (Shikoku 1/Tokushima) and Fukui Phenix OV60 (Hokushinetsu/Fukui) played close battles and wound up drawing 1-1. “We got stiff, including myself, when we needed to score,” Fukui’s KIMURA Takanobu said. “I’ll continue to aim at scoring goals after the second match.”

In Group D, Saitama Senior 60 (Kanto 2/Saitama) tamed Akita Senior Soccer Club (Tohoku 1/Akita) 4-1, while Fukuoka Rokujugara Football Club (Kyushu 1/Fukuoka) defeated SUPER GOAL 3 (Hokkaido 2) 1-0. The two winners are tied with three points. Saitama Senior 60, who are looking to capture the first title as a Saitama club, capitalised on their offence. Around forward MACHIDA Junichi, who runs sub-14 seconds in 100-meter dash, scored two goals and Saitama got off to a good start. Meanwhile, Fukuoka Rokujugara, who are good at relaying passes, were content with the way they played and would be able to use it as a steppingstone for the remainder of the tournament.

The second- and third-match games of the first round will be played on the 5th and the four teams that will advance to the second round will be revealed.

Players' Comments

KIMURA Takanobu (Fukui Phenix OV60)
While we had some chances, we were not able to take advantage of them and ended up drawing. It’s a disappointing result, but the way we played was fine and we are enjoying the friendly atmosphere of this tournament. When I’m running, it’s hard, but I can go all out for my teammates. There are teammates that I’ve played with since we were in our 20s, and I feel I’m fortunate. I want to avoid illness and injuries, and want to play football as long as I can.

MORIBE Toshimitsu (Fukuoka Rokujugara Football Club)
It was a tough first game for us but I’m frankly glad that my goal led to our win. Our forwards couldn’t capitalise on our chances and it gave us a bad feeling a little bit. Considering the remainder of the tournament, we wanted to win, so I felt relieved that I scored one. (On the scoring scene) It was an image that I scratched the ball with the inside of my left foot. It went to a favorable direction. One of the attractive things about football is that you can help your teammates and look for a positive result. And the drink after posting a win never gets old and it’s great.

ISHIGAKI Yukio (SUPER GOAL 3)
We usually train three times every two weeks. Each one of us works on his individual training as well, and myself, I’ve tried to not lose my muscle during the winter. Because I was too busy and there was a period that I wasn’t playing when I was in my 20s, but I came back to the game as I was asked by my teammates. It feels great to play in a national tournament like this, but I wasn’t able to do anything in today’s game. It’s honestly hard to play against a team who have a lot of high individual skills, but I’m enjoying the tournament. We all try to enjoy playing football and we can do because so it’s serious competitions. We are in a national stage and are going to look to capture wins.

MACHIDA Junichi (Saitama Senior 60)
Individually, this is my first time to play at a national tournament for 60 years old or older, and I was a little nervous, but it feels great that we won. Since I started kicking the ball in junior high school, I’ve been playing in high school, and as an adult and senior. When I was in high school, I couldn’t play for a powerhouse school, but because I’ve played consistently, I believe I can score a goal at a national tournament like this. For me, it’s now or never. Some of my teammates competed in the national high school football championships, but I’m playing on par with them. I genuinely think that it’s paid off for me to kept playing football.

JFA-TV (Japanese version only)

The 16th All Japan Seniors (over 60) football tournament

Sat. 4 June 2016 - Mon 6 June 2016
[Matsumoto City, Nagano] Shinshu Skypark (Alwin), Shinshu Skypark Turf Ground, Shinshu Skypark Multipurpose Field, Matsumoto City Karigane Soccer Field, Matsumoto City Soccer Field (Nagano Football Centre)
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