The first training camp for the Beach Soccer Japan National Team since Marcelo Mendes took their head coaching position started at Ginowan Tropical Beach in Okinawa.

Before the practice, the team had a meeting on the pitch under the sky. The new head coach gave players a short speech.
“I am very happy to be in a position to lead you guys as the head coach of Japan’s national team. As the former head coach of the UAE national team for seven years, playing against Japan, I think I know very well how good your skills and your stamina are. I have come here to add my knowledge and experience to Japan, help it to be the champion in Asia, and help it to compete at high level in the world cup. You have that potential. Let’s get the work started together to get on top!”
Even long-time national team players seemed a little nervous to start the practice, because it was the first session with the new coach. But as the training went on, the beach soccer national team got back their normal energetic self.

Coach Mendes stopped plays time to time, explained his strategy and made his philosophy understood by his players.

An intra-squad match concluded the training and the first day ended.

Beach Soccer Japan National Team’s new journey has just started.

Head Coach and Player Comments

Marcelo MENDES, Head Coach
First of all, I am honestly happy to start my work for the Japan National Team. I can feel that players are committed to put their all into this national team. More than anything, they focus and work with pride as national team players in the training.
Players tend to be nervous after a head coach changes. But once they started feeling comfortable, they started enjoying the practice menu that I gave them. This is very important for them to get better.
Ozu is clearly better than other players in terms of his skill level, but all other players are similar in that regard. So that makes it very easy for me to plan and lead the practice. Normally on beach soccer national teams the skill level varies from player to player, but it’s not true to Japan’s national team. We can say that this is very important in starting to build up a good team.
We had the first team trip to come here, and finished the first practice. Every staff member is so professional, the trip has been very well-organized, our hotel has no problem at all, and the pitch condition is all ready for us. I would like to thank JFA, Okinawa Football Association, our hotel and other people involved, and want to make a good training camp out of this.

MOREIRA Ozu
This first practice was very good as we put our hearts into it. After the new head coach came on board, we started learning new strategies and formations, and we have been using our brains more than ever. Before we just played hard without thinking very much, but now we all need to think and play.
This team has players our former coach Ramos put together, but I think we will have new players brought in later. It just started now, but we have to fully understand as soon as possible what the coach is thinking, build the foundation of the new team, and show the new Japan’s national team in the world cup qualifier, which is said to be held this year.
The Asian qualifiers are getting harder and harder to win, but we want to show a strong Japan team and win it. I have known Coach Mendes for a long time, and I think I know how he coaches a team. He said he wants to win the championship in Asia and advance to the late rounds in the world cup, and I feel the same way. Under Coach Mendes, we want to build a good enough team at least to be one of the best four teams in the world cup.
Coach Ramos taught us players quick transition between offense and defence, importance of quickness and toughness, and strong heart never to give up. Now Coach Mendes came in, and he is adding world-class strategies and set-piece formations, so I think we are heading into a good direction.