On Friday 17 August, the JFA Vermont Cup 28th U-12 Japan Futsal Championship opened. 48 teams winning out of the regional qualifiers assembled at the Komazawa Gymnasium at Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Ground, Tokyo, to participate in the opening ceremony where MATSUMOTO Masaya of Gatt 2008 U12 (Kyoto) gave the player’s oath.

The first round took place in the two indoor venues at the Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Ground, as 12 groups of four teams competed at both the Komazawa Gymnasium and Indoor Ball Sports Field. In day one, each team completed two matches of group league action.

Day one did not lack action as 13 teams recorded more than 10 goals in the two matches played, as Nishinomiya SS (Hyogo) marked 22 goals in the two matches they played. The tournament has been featuring many attacking returns in the past years, but this year come backs made by teams who failed to earn an optimal result in their first match, left a strong impression.

Two teams who made a symbolic comeback were the Espeda Asahikawa (Hokkaido2) of Group C, and FC Persimmon (Kanagawa) from Group K.

After making their second tournament appearance since finishing as the runners-up in the 2016 tournament, Espeda dropped their first match against Diablossa Takada FC U-12 (Nara) 3-6. However, they bounced back from their loss to win a see-saw game against Kounanminami SS (Saitama) 4-3. Considering that Kounanminami, a team where Japan National Team’s HARAGUCHI Genki played in his youth days, was one of the top picks to win the tournament, made their come back that much significant.

Last year’s third place finisher, Persimmon was making their third tournament appearance and also failed to win their first match, as they tied with Antelope Shiojiri Junior (Nagano) 3-3. However, in their second match they showcased great cohesiveness and individual skills to earn a sweeping victory against Ariakejunior Football Club (Nagasaki) with a score of 9-3. The pep-talk given by Coach MIURA Daisuke, “Let’s leave no regrets,” may have woken up the players to earn this result.

After day one, total of five teams had secured their spot into the next round, as Asahigaoka FC (Ishikawa) from Group A, Brincar FC (Aichi) of Group H, the defending champions SJFSC･PIVO (Shizuoka) of Group I, Osaka City Jeunesse FC (Osaka) of Group J, and Hiyagon FC (Okinawa) from Group L, clinched their second-round berth after two matches of play.

On Saturday 18 August, day two will take place as the remaining matches of the first round will be played as well as the round of 16. The leaders from each group as well as the top four record holders among the second-place teams of each group will be competing in the final round. An even intense battle is expected at the final group stage matches, with the spot into the final round at stake.

Among them all, three matches will be held between teams who has won their first two matches, as in Group B, Aomori Football Club U-12 (Aomori) faces Areaito Football Academy (Fukuoka), while Kasiwa Reysol A.A.TOR'82 (Chiba) and Nishinomiya SS will square off in Group E, plus the Group G action between Tottori KFC U-12 (Tottori) and Kashima Antlers Junior (Ibaraki). Group D and Group K will also feature exciting matches as teams with two wins will face another undefeated team with a record of a win and a tie, as Kushiro Combat (Hokkaido1) and Solnino F.C. (Saga) in Group D, while Alma Futsal Club (Wakayama) and Persimmon in Group K competes for the group lead.

Three teams can still take the lead in Group C and Group F. In Group C, Diablossa Takada currently leads the pack with two wins, but Espeda and Kounanminami follows with a win apiece. If Kounanminami wins against Diablossa Takada while Espeda wins their match, their fate will be determined by goal differential, leaving a spectacular competition ahead for the observers.

Similar to Group C, Avanzare Sendai SC (Miyagi) has recorded two wins in Group F, but still could follow the same scenario as above, if Akenohigasi SSS (Oita) wins over Avanzare Sendai, while Les Bleus (Hiroshima) win their match.

The prestige competition to determine the U-12 champions among the entrants exceeding 3000 teams will intensify from this point on.

Coaches' Comments

KOYANO Toshihiro, Coach (Kashima Antlers Junior)
It was similar when we entered this tournament last time, but after all we are a football team, so we kept our emphasis on how to better ourselves as a football player, while training for futsal. We started training a month and a half ahead of this tournament. There are many techniques and tactics in futsal that we don’t normally see in football. Those are the aspects we must work on, and once we can obtain those aspects, we can obtain a new perspective in our football games. We have long ways to go, and we still have to organise many things, so we will continue to improve ourselves as we go along.

NAKAGAWA Teppei, Coach (Espeda Asahikawa)
We entered a group with many strong teams, and in our first match against Diablossa Takada FC U-12, we opened up the match with too much caution. After losing the match 3-6, our players were deeply upset, but I told them, “The outcome of the match is also important, but let’s just enjoy playing football against the best opponents,” and the players responded by resetting their minds to face the next match with a positive vibe. Two years ago, when we were the runners-up of the tournament, it gave us a painful reminder that winning the national title is no simple task to accomplish. But our players are here with an intention to achieve something greater than what their older players has accomplished.

FURUI Shunpei, Coach (Brincar FC)
Although we looked a little nervous, our players entered the match with caution and managed the risks to take the initiative of the match. We showcased many varieties in our set-plays and individual efforts to score goals. This year’s team has many players with great potential so if everyone can think and play what’s best for the team, good results should follow. Many people are expecting us to win and the players are feeling the pressure, but they have been watching what their older teams has done, so I am positive that they can do the same.

MIURA Daisuke, Coach (FC Persimmon)
The national championship has a unique atmosphere to it and our players were overwhelmed in the first match, where they ended up with a draw. But after the match, I told my players, “This is our tournament and we have been training so hard to perform our very best at this stage. Let’s not leave any regrets,” and the players responded in the second match by taking lots of shots aggressively and showcased their style. However, we haven’t played up to our full potential yet. The most important thing is not winning or losing, but to keep challenging. It doesn’t matter who we play, we just have to do what we have been doing.

Fri. 17 August Opening Ceremony

Fri. 17 August 1st Round Goal Scenes

JFA Vermont Cup 28th U-12 Japan Futsal Championship

Tournament dates: Fri. 17 - Sun. 19 August 2018
Tournament venue: Komazawa Gymnasium and Indoor Ball Sports Field at Komazawa Olympic Park Sports Ground, Tokyo
Tournament Information