U-15 Japan National Team, “00 Japan”, started its first overseas training camp in Indonesia.

The team is led mainly by players who were born in 2000 hence it is called “00 Japan”, and their present aim is to go through the qualification round for the AFC U-16 Championship. This championship allows teams to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Sixteen players are selected from the two training camps held both in east and west Japan in February, and from the “SPORT FOR TOMORROW Japan-Central Asia U-15 Football Exchange Programme” which was the first official international matches for “00 Japan” took place. There are also seven players who have been selected for the first time. A total of 23 squad players are now challenging for this first overseas camp in Indonesia, country with a hot climate.
At the first meeting, head coach Moriyama talked to the players about the goal which is “to get familiar with many new things” such as the team concept, their teammates, the different environment, and managing fitness, along with showing them the meaning of this training camp and expectation to the players.

Even though the players seemed to be tired after a long journey after a 7.5 hour flight to Bogor, Indonesia, and two hour bus journey to their hotel, Team conditioning coach Matsuodani had core bodybuilding training at night. They also had another meeting to have a mutual understanding about what to do in the upcoming training sessions by watching video of European Football Leagues. A series of practical training divided into morning and afternoon sessions start from 14th April.

Players’ Comments

WAKATSUKI Teru (Albirex Niigata U-15)
I’m happy to be called up for this camp. It was good that I could show my abilities in my local Kitashinetsu U-15 League. In the previous camp, I was strictly advised that I had to improve the quality of my crossing, so I just want to show the improvement this time. I also want to work very hard to improve it more until I can be sufficiently confident. I’m expecting to have a lot of communication with my teammates. I wasn’t invited to the squad team before, so I will play full of energy from tomorrow.

NARUSE Shumpei (Nagoya Grampus U15)
Since I previously couldn’t join in the team due to sickness, I am more careful about my condition in this camp. As our Head Coach told us today, I want to work well to get familiar with many things particularly with the different environment, managing my fitness and communication with my teammates. In this camp, I want to pay continuous attention to the goal of the camp and I want to experience as many positions as possible. I’m just looking forward to the training from tomorrow.

Schedule

*The schedule is subject to change due to the team condition, the weather, etc.

Future Schedule